Page 41 - RSDG Year of 2021 CREST

during the passing out parade, which took place coin- cidentally on International Bagpipe Day! Also taking part on the passing out parade was LCpl Duff, who completed his Class 2 Pipers course. Shortly after- wards, LCpl Waugh also left ASBM&HD after com- pleting his seven-months-long Pipe Major’s course, achieving a well-earned A grade.
April saw Pipe Major Duncan lead the musical charge with the playing of a lament at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle to mark ANZAC Day. By May, preparations were underway in Leuchars for the resumption of public duties in Edinburgh and the Band moved to Redford Barracks for practice and rehearsals with the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and Balaklava Company (5 SCOTS) for a successful Ceremony of the Keys at Holyrood Palace, as the City welcomed HRH Prince William, The Earl of Strathearn in his role as the Queen’s representa- tive and Moderator of the General Assembly of the
Church of Scotland. This also saw individual pip- ers taking turns to play for the resident Royals each morning around the Palace. Shortly afterwards, the Pipe Major had some individual success at the virtual Atholl Gathering, coming 2nd in the Premier/A grade Piobaireachd and in the Open Hornpipe and Jig.
While June saw the bulk of the SCOTS DG Battlegroup deploy to Salisbury Plain for Ex WESSEX STORM, the Pipes and Drums returned to Redford Barracks to pre- pare for the Installation of the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich OBE VR. While in Edinburgh, the Band managed to help assist the Lothian and Borders Cadets Pipes and Drums with some tuition and treated them to a sneak- peak at the sets that had been worked hard on through- out the last 18 months. The big day finally came for the Governor on the anniversary of Bannockburn. Sadly for the public there was no opportunity to really see the ‘Tartan machine’ in full force other than our
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