OCTOBER 2017 • ISSUE 17 High-LightTHE TRI-SERVICE MAGAZINE OF HIGHLAND RESERVE FORCES’ AND CADETS’ ASSOCIATION Medical Stretch Web: HRFCA.CO.UK Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/HRFCA Pages 10 & 11 Twitter: @HRFCA 2 | High-Light • Issue 17 Busy and productive time for Association n the editorial to the last issue of High-Light I Beating Retreat dress rehearsal at Gordon Barracks in August I mentioned the forthcoming general election as 2016, which was attended by a wide cross-section of our well as the participation of Mark Lancaster MP, then friends and supporters. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Elsewhere in this edition you will find much that I hope is of interest, including reports on another full Summer Veterans, Reserves and Personnel, at our Annual Season, which this year included Association Meeting. HRFCA’s presence at Leuchars While steering well clear of party politics – one of our Station’s inaugural Open Day and Association’s key values is of course to remain resolutely the RAF Lossiemouth Families’ apolitical, the old adage about change being a constant has and Friends’ Day as well as again been underlined post-election by the promotion of Mr the regular fixtures of Stirling Lancaster to Minister of State for the Armed Forces … which Military Show and Dundee’s must be good news for us as well as for him! and Clackmannanshire’s Armed Closer to home, change has been evident in the home team, Forces Day celebrations, to name with the retirement of Andy Forry and with Avril Blyth taking just a few. on the newly-created Head of Support Services post. As you Notwithstanding continuing will read in the following pages there has been change too in tightening of purse-strings, the the Employer Engagement area, with Michelle McKearnon Estates team is pressing on with (pictured, right) joining us from Forth Valley Chamber of much-needed capital works Commerce. projects in Dunfermline and Also covered in this issue is the Executive Board’s decision to Arbroath. disband the North Eastern Area Committee and to reallocate One other success of note is the nomination of two of our its members to the Northern and Eastern Area Committees. important employers – Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce There is little for me to add here, other than to record in these and NHS Golden Jubilee Foundation for the coveted Armed pages the sincerest thanks of the HRFCA Chairman, Executive Forces Recognition Scheme Gold Award, as well as a clutch of Board and membership at large to outgoing Committee new Silver Award winners. We will report on the presentation Chairman John Lemon for his tenacity and determination in of both sets of awards in the next issue. keeping the Committee viable for as long as possible. John For now however I commend this edition of High-Light to has continued to mastermind and support numerous highly you as a record of a busy and productive period in the life of effective events including, notably, a most successful Cadet the Association. Mark Dodson Brigadier Dodson chats to Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Battalion ACF Cadets during a trip to their annual camp at Swynnerton in Staffordshire. High-Light • Issue 17 | 3 Contents 4, 5 Stirling Military Show 4 6 AFD Clackmannanshire 7 AFD Dundee 8, 9 Exercise Executive Stretch 10, 11 Exercise Medical Stretch 12 Leuchars Open Day 13 Employer’s P2000 trip 14 Cadets take to the water 15 A&SH Summer Camp 16 205 Fd Hosp saddle up 6 7 17 7SCOTS event in Nairn 18 Member update 19 New REED welcomed 20 Tattoo hits right notes 10 14 8, 9 High-Light is designed and produced for [email protected] you by Highland RFCA, Seathwood, tel: 01382 631027 twitter: @hrfca 365 Perth Road, Dundee, DD2 1LX facebook: facebook.com/HRFCA 4 | High-Light • Issue 17 Sun shines on successful St irling show Cadets during the parade. arge crowds enjoyed Provost Mrs Christine Simpson and Lt Col Area members welcomed a wide range L great summer weather at Piers Strudwick, CO of 7 SCOTS, who all of guests, friends old and new to an King’s Park for Stirling Military chatted to the cadets and veterans on arena-side view and refreshments in the parade. Cruachan tent – a facility provided by Show on 17 June. The highlight of the arena show was a HRFCA in collaboration with 7 SCOTS and There was a large and diverse range of simulated engagement by 7 SCOTS with Stirling Council. Theresa and her expert attractions including a Royal Navy diver in the SNIY in support; Capt Mac McKenzie team of caterers looked after more than a glass-fronted tank, military vehicles old was credited with putting this impressive 120 guests and hosts. and new, interactive stands from the demonstration of infantry tactics together. The HMS FORTH CO, Cdr Bob Laverty, RM/RMR, RRS, ATC, Army Medics, 154 and members of his Ship’s Company The Cadet Association Drill Competition Regt and many others. provided welcome hosting support. The parade stepped off from Port Street was exciting and well-contested as ever with honours this year going to the Air All agreed that it had been a highly at 12.05 and arrived at the showground successful show, underlining its status as on the dot of 12.30. Training Corps with their cadets from 1019 (City of Stirling) Squadron. Scotland’s premier Armed Forces Week With the roar of the motorcycles from event and helping to ensure that the The Riders Branch of the Royal British The arena show concluded with Beating Armed Forces community remains an Legion Scotland marking the moment the Retreat in the late afternoon sunshine. integral, visible and valued part of the parade was inspected by Lord-Lieutenant The Highland RFCA Association community, both in Stirling and across the of Stirling Ian Simpson OBE, Stirling’s new Chairman, Chief Executive and Southern Country. HRFCA’s VIP tent was the perfect spot to watch goings-on in the arena. High-Light • Issue 17 | 5 Three generations of the McKearnon family manned our publicity stand, with new HRFCA REED Michelle (left). Lord-Lieutenant of Stirling Ian Simpson OBE (left), Stirling’s new Provost Mrs Christine Simpson and Lt Col Piers Strudwick, CO of 7 SCOTS (centre) inspected the parade. 6 | High-Light • Issue 17 Great turnout as Alloa shows its support lloa Town Hall once Corporal Cruachan IV and his predecessor Council. A welcome speech followed A again provided the focus for Lance Corporal (Retd) Cruachan III; before Piper Andy McLucky played the the Clackmannanshire Armed RBLS Clackmannanshire and district Royal Salute as the Armed Forces Day Flag representatives and veterans; Dollar was raised. Forces Day event. Academy Combined Cadet Force; Air A civic reception then followed for The sun shone as Parade Commander Cadets from 383 (Alloa) Sqn; Army Cadets John Barrett met dignitaries and guests, of the Clackmannan Company of the invited guests in the town hall where the including HRFCA representatives, at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; and Lord-Lieutenant presented certificates to town hall shortly before events got under Girlguiding Clackmannanshire. this year’s Lord-Lieutenant Cadets. way. The parade then formed up outside the As in past years, there was a really great At 10.15am Dollar Academy Pipe Band town hall and was presented to turnout for the event with schoolchildren, led the parade through the town followed Lord-Lieutenant for Clackmannanshire, Lt locals and visitors filling the streets to by Royal Regiment of Scotland Pony Col (Retd) Johnny Stewart accompanied show their appreciation for our armed Major Mark Wilkinson with mascot Lance by the Provost of Clackmannanshire forces. High-Light • Issue 17 | 7 Veterans form up in City Square. Dundee celebrates Armed Forces Day RFCA joined Reserve units, H Cadets and Veterans at Armed Forces Day in Dundee on 1 July. Once again the city lived up to its reputation as Scotland’s sunniest, serving up pleasantly warm conditions. The event in the city centre was very well attended, with visitors enjoying stands from a variety of Reserve units – including Royal Naval Reservists from HMS Scotia, RMR Scotland, 7 SCOTS, 225 Med Regt, and C Squadron of the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry – Sea Cadets from Dundee and Methil, RAF Air Cadets from Dundee and the surrounding area, Army Cadets from Angus & Dundee Battalion, and a variety of charities. The HRFCA stand (left); and (right) Dundee Lord Provost Ian Borthwick (centre) takes the salute. The highlight of the day was the parade of Veterans and Cadets from the High School of Dundee. Mains of Fintry Pipe Band led this down Reform Street to City Square. Dundee’s new Lord Provost Ian Borthwick, who later inspected the Veterans and Cadets, took the salute. Other activities in the City Square included a gun run from the Sea Cadets, and singing and dancing from a variety of local youth and community groups. HRFCA had secured a prime spot just outside the Overgate Centre and staff, including Regional Employer Engagement Director Ron Macgregor and Head of Engagement Dai John, spent a fruitful day explaining the Association’s role in A young visitor on a WMIK which made up part of C Squadron of the SNIY’s display. supporting Reservists and Service Cadets. Left to right: Cadets from each of the services march down Reform Street. 8 | High-Light • Issue 17 Sun shines on Exercise Executive Stretch dinburgh was once E again the venue for Exercise Executive Stretch. The 5-7 May event was designed to offer civilian managers a taste of military life while helping develop leadership and team-working skills.