DECEMBER 2018 • ISSUE 20 High-LightTHE TRI-SERVICE MAGAZINE OF HIGHLAND RESERVE FORCES’ AND CADETS’ ASSOCIATION Beating Retreat Web: HRFCA.CO.UK Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/HRFCA Page 6 Twitter: @HRFCA 2 | High-Light • Issue 20 Snapshot from a busy ‘summer season’ elcome to Issue 20 of High-Light, our quarterly report on a 205 Field journal for both the Association’s members and Hospital fundraiser on W page 12 being a great our wider network of supporters and contributors. example. This Issue is intended to provide a snapshot of the busy The Highland Cadet ‘summer season’ of Armed Forces Week activities and cadet Forces Trust, introduced summer camps. It is worth bearing in mind that much more goes in the last edition by on throughout the year than there is room for in the pages of Founding Chairman Dr Joe High-Light. To get the full flavour please visit our website, Twitter Morrow has now been account and Facebook pages to keep up to date with other granted charitable status developments and join in the conversation, not least concerning by HMRC and the Office of our newest recruit, Sgt Maj George Seathwood... the Scottish Charity Regulator. Driven by the RFCA 2020 Programme, a pan-UK reorganisation The Trust is working to refine its strategic plan and has already of personnel within the RFCAs, the summer has seen the made its first welfare disbursement to a cadet unit. We need complete reorganisation of the Inverness office, which now your help to continue this work to deliver the Trust’s purposes, mirrors the other estate offices in Aberdeen and Dumbarton. including such benefits brought by the cadets as education, I am delighted to welcome Rochene Mitchell, our new Estates citizenship, community development, public participation, Officer North to her role. At the same time we say farewell equality and diversity. Should you wish to contribute you will to Terry Cowan, Ruth Matthews and Laura Innes and I would find a Direct Debit mandate enclosed in this edition. particularly like to single out the nearly 10 years of enthusiastic The 2018 round of Employer Recognition Scheme awards, and efficient support that Ruth has given to the Northern Area that recognises the commitment and contribution made to the committee. wider Armed Forces community by employers and employer An ambitious programme of cadet hut betterment work organisations from the public and private sectors, has just is under way with over 20 sites due for work in this financial concluded. year (see page 15). Ballingry and Kilsyth are the first huts to be Two of ‘our’ accounts, Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce completed, whilst the repair and renovation of the cookhouse in and IED Training Solutions Ltd, have both won prestigious Lochgilphead Cadet Training Centre has also been finished. We Silver Awards as reported on pages 10 and 11, and NHS Orkney will keep you posted as other sites are renovated. has achieved the coveted Gold Award, which was presented Much is of course happening in the reserve and cadet units in London last month. Our heartfelt thanks and warmest we support, with such major undertakings as 71 Engr Regt’s congratulations to them all! recent Exercise PINESTICK (pictured, above right) in Cyprus being covered in our next edition. We are always keen to report on these and other unit activities, with Officer Cadet McKeown’s Mark Dodson The ERS Silver Awards were held at Edinburgh Castle. High-Light • Issue 20 | 3 Contents 4, 5 Stirling Military Show 6 Beating Retreat 7 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 8 BAE’s 50 years at Hillend 4, 5 9 Dundee Armed Forces Day 10, 11 ERS Silver Awards 12 Saddling up for Erskine 8 10 13 Minister joins HRFCA 14 Cadet camps 14 15 Estates update 16 Glencorse selection 12 6 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 20 Sun shines on another St irling success The Red Devils Army Parachute Team made a spectacular entrance to kick off the show. rilliant sunshine greeted Company of 7 SCOTS and C Squadron of A presentation of a Lord Lieutenant’s the thousands of visitors the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry. Certificate for Meritorious Service B 2015 The Voice champion Stevie was next, with the hard work and who attended Stirling Military commitment of Major Claire Luti of Show on 30 June. McCrorie then took to the stage to keep the crowd entertained ahead of the the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders The Cruachan Guest Tent (provided by cadet drill competition. Battalion ACF recognised. HRFCA in collaboration with Stirling Council Taking to the arena were teams from The day was rounded off with a and 7 SCOTS) was again at the heart of the the Sea Cadets, Dollar Academy CCF, memorable performance of Beating action, welcoming guests for refreshments ATC from Stirling and Alloa and a team Retreat from the Band of the Royal and a fantastic view of the arena area. from Stirling Company of the Argyll and Marines Scotland. Guests included Mark Lancaster MP, Sutherland Highlanders Battalion ACF. All in all Scotland’s premier Armed Minister of State for the Armed Forces at All the teams performed really well in Forces Week event didn’t disappoint, Westminster and Graeme Day MSP, Minister front of the appreciative audience, with and has become a very welcome for Parliamentary Business and Veterans at the team from the Argyll and Sutherland annual fixture on the country’s summer Holyrood. Highlanders coming out on top. calendar. King’s Park opened to visitors at 11am where they were able to enjoy a wide variety of stalls and interactive stands from the likes of 7 SCOTS, 71 Engineer Regiment, the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, the Scottish Military Vehicle Group, Service Cadets, Service charities and many others. The parade, which stepped off from Port Street at 12:05, marched through the town and arrived at the park at 12:30. Prior to the parade inspection by the Lord-Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk Alan Simpson and Stirling Provost Christine Simpson, the excellent Red Devils Army Parachute Team treated the crowd to a display. The four-man team dropped into the arena in spectacular style amid a cloud of red smoke. Musical entertainment followed from the 7 SCOTS Pipe Band and, on the stage, Dionne Hickey. Next up in the arena was an infantry Mark Lancaster MP and Graeme Dey MSP enjoy a chat at the Cruachan Guest Tent. capability demonstration courtesy of D High-Light • Issue 20 | 5 The Highland and Lowland bands of The Royal Regiment of Scotland joined forces to perform at Stirling. Below: They even found time in their busy schedule to provide entertainment in the HRFCA tent. Major Claire Luti received a Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate for Meritorious Service from Alan Simpson. The Band of the Royal Marines Scotland played an atmospheric Beating Retreat. From left: Lord-Lieutenant Alan Simpson presents the drill trophy to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; HRFCA’s Michelle McKearnon and Sharon Swash enjoy a welcome break; and sprightly Black Watch WWII veteran Jack Adamson (99) with his soldier’s service and pay book. 6 | High-Light • Issue 20 The Pipes & Drums at Gordon Barracks. 130-strong RAF band Beats Retreat he Combined RAF Pipes & and Andrew Bowie, veterans and volunteers and, given the Drums performed a dress members of the RAF Association in the collaboration of regulars, T North East including John Cruickshank VC reserves, veterans, cadets rehearsal of Beating Retreat at (210 Sqn Sullom Voe). and adult volunteers, was Gordon Barracks in Aberdeen The combined pipes and drums an excellent example of the on 27 August in advance of a were brought together from regular ‘whole force’ concept in performance for Her Majesty the units including from RAF Odiham, RAF action. Queen at Balmoral the next day. Northolt, RAF Halton, RAF Waddington, The salute was taken by Air Commodore RAF Lossiemouth, and also from 2622 Robbie Noel RAF (Retd) on behalf of Air The event – which was part of the Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Officer Scotland. RAF 100 celebrations – was enjoyed by based at Lossiemouth. Many thanks to Acting Pilot Officer around 60 guests and hosts invited to the The band ranged in ages from 16-76 Matt Smith and the members of 2288 barracks by Highland RFCA. and, at 130-strong, was the biggest-ever (Montrose) Squadron ATC who assisted on Guests included the Lord-Lieutenants of collection of RAF pipers and drummers. the day. Also, thanks go to Lt Col Geraint Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, plus They were expertly marshalled by Pipe Thomas and his station staff officer the Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeen City. Major Ian Hughes. Norrie Donald for allowing the use of the Also present were MPs Kirsty Blackman All contributors to the event were facilities at Gordon Barracks. 2288 (Montrose) Squadron assisted on the day. High-Light • Issue 20 | 7 Tattoo leaves its mark on show guests ighland and Lowland RFCAs H treated around 40 guests to an evening of top-class entertainment at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The 21 August evening started with a reception and buffet at the Radisson Blue hotel on The Royal Mile before the guests headed to Edinburgh Castle for the show. ‘The Sky’s the Limit’ was the theme for the tattoo, which embraced Scotland’s Year of Young People with colourful performers from across the globe. They included Switzerland’s Top Secret Drum Corps, The Central Band of the Czech Armed Forces The Royal Air Force was marking its 100th anniversary.