The Thursday evening saw an astonishing demonstration of the strength of feeling in Molde about the events 64 years before, when a talk on the events of the fateful night – an activity held on a regular basis – attracted a gathering which the Mayor estimated at well over 1,000 people, many of whom had made the effort because of the presence of the veterans in their town.

Making the most of the sunshine, the Friday morning bus tour ended with a performance by the Royal Norwegian Navy Band at the Storkaia, the jetty where the Glasgow had come alongside in the town’s “darkest hour.”

The performance was followed by a lavish lunch on board the impressive Norwegian Coastguard ship Ålesund.

The Royal Norwegian Navy Band played again later the same day at the medal ceremony, and were joined by international opera star Ann-Helen Moen – another Molde-born celebrity, who took time out of a busy schedule to serenade the guests.

The Fuglset Male Voice Choir, led by British director and multi-talented musician Lindsay Winfield-Chislett and featuring County Governor Ottar Befring, also performed twice – the second time demonstrating its flexibility by providing backing for the veterans’ impromptu rendition of their old ship’s song, I Belong to Glasgow.

A local shipping company provided a boat for the veterans to enjoy a two-hour cruise of the fjord, tracing Glasgow’s route to the sea, then it was back to the Rica Seilet Hotel for the final ceremony of the visit.

The hotel had carried out considerable building work to create a Glasgow Lounge, with specially-commissioned painting by Rolf Groven, and the lounge was officially opened before the veterans went their separate ways.

Also on display, along with a Glasgow ship’s plaque, is a mounted coin from the original wartime gold shipment, presented by Jarle Bergo, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Norway.

Throughout the programme the veterans were staggered by the warmth of the welcome they received.

Stan Henty said: “There was no pomposity at all – it was all genuine, and they didn’t leave anything to chance.

“But there were eight of us here today, and each of us represents 100 men who couldn’t be here – and some who didn’t even survive the war.”

The sense of reverence continued all the way to the airport and beyond for at least one of the veterans, Fred Bunt, who was on the last British Airways flight out of Oslo on the bank holiday.

Fred was treated like a VIP by flight purser Mandy Miller and the cabin staff on the Airbus – a welcome indication that there are still those in the UK who appreciate the courage and fortitude of men like Fred to the same degree as our wartime allies.

Pictures by Magne Åhjem Royal Norwegian Navy, unless otherwise stated.

View a full gallery of images here.