Page 44 - RSDG Year of 2021 CREST

42 EAGLE AND CARBINE
weekend’s festivities at the All Ranks party, but not before giving everyone one last show, thankfully out of Full Dress!
Despite Covid 19 still limiting the opportunities for the Band and its members to compete throughout the year, September also saw LCpl Waugh win ‘The Pipe Major’s Challenge Tankard’, presented by the Commanding Officer for his composition ‘Laird’s Salute’, whilst the Pipe Major, LCpl McKay and Tpr MacDonell competed in the Capt. John A. MacLellan MBE Solo Piping Competition, hosted by the ASMB&HD.
Autumn brought new challenges and opportunities for the Band: everyone enjoying a break with some Adventurous Training in the Highlands, some on deployment in sunny Oman with B and C Sqns on Ex KHANJAR OMAN, others catching up on career courses and for Cpl Holbrough, something quite dif- ferent in providing direct support to NHS Scotland by helping give Covid vaccination boosters and Flu jabs in Lanarkshire. Despite all this, the Band managed to see the Pipey come 2nd in the London Medallion and John MacFadyen Quaich at the prestigious Scottish Piping Society of London competition. It also took part in musical reflection for Remembrance Sunday and a memorial service for the late Capt Alwyne Farquharson MC of Invercauld, a special charity pro- ject with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Captain Stuart Samson MBE and accompanied by a voiceover from Brig Sir Mel Jameson KCVO CBE CStJ – a single of ‘The Heroes of St Valery’; with the proceeds going to both Legion Scotland and Poppy Scotland, as well as making sure the significance of the Battle Honour- Balaklava and the 2 Victoria Crosses won was remem- bered in the Officers’ Mess.
December was no less busy; before some well-earned Christmas leave, the Pipes and Drums, alongside the
Band of the Scots Guards, moved to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for the Sovereign’s Parade in the presence of HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, as well a quick visit to the Cavalry & Guards Club for the annual Regimental Officers’ Dinner, attended by the Deputy Colonel, HRH The Duke of Kent.
So that was 2021...but we’re not resting on our lau- rels; 2022 promises to be an even more engaging year for the Band, with some exciting performances and opportunities lined up already. Shameless plug here, but please do follow us on Facebook, if you can, for up to date news, recordings and videos of everything we get up to! On behalf of the Pipe Major, Drum Major and all ranks of the Pipes and Drums, thank you for your continued support - with-
out you we can’t continue to be Second to None!