Page 94 - RSDG Year of 2021 CREST

100 EAGLE AND CARBINE
HQ Sqn SSM and OC pleased with the result of the Highland Games
instructions and tickets with much deliberation about headdress.
It wasn’t just the marching contingent that hadn’t been on parade for 2 years, The mounted troop had been ‘out to grass’ for the duration and the horses hadn’t been up to much either. To refamiliarise the horses with the city they did a watering order which saw 10 greys from Tower Farm Stables and riders walk- ing and trotting around the streets of the new town and the old town. What started as a plan to ride past the Balmoral Hotel to say good morning to the Colonel of the Regiment finished as a delicious breakfast for the riders and horses thanks to the General Manager Richard Cooke!
With invitations out, and responses collated (predomi- nantly) digitality I conveniently abandoned ship for a week to conduct my HOTO for my next job in the South and left the subbies to juggle tickets into enve- lopes. This proved more difficult than anticipated and thankfully Sharron was on hand to dish out the final tickets at the castle and at the gate of the palace. With the regimental family ready it was time for SCOTS DG 50 to get underway.
B Sqn SSM ensures his Sqn knows who signs off the leave paperwork
As the marching contingent enjoyed port and bacon rolls at the armoury and a coach journey to Edinburgh, the Deputy Colonel in Chief, The Duke of Kent, Colonel of the Regiment, Commanding Officers and Regimental Sergeants Major past and present were kindly hosted in the City Chambers by the Lord Provost. We formed up on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade and the Commanding Officer took com- mand of the parade, the Standard was marched on through the castle portcullis and we stepped off in well-rehearsed unison with the mounted troop clear- ing the route down the Mile to the triumphant sound of the regiments Pipes and Drums and the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The Association Sergeant Major, Mr Chalmers had primed the old guard with port and was poised ready to join the parade at St Giles Cathedral before the Duke of Kent took the salute from the Regiment in front of City Chambers in the presence of previous Commanding Officers and Regimental Sergeants Major.
On arrival at Holyrood a well-rehearsed sequence of casting weapons into trucks hidden in the rhododen- drons took place and the marching contingent formed up for the drumhead service with our family taking place each side of the dais. The Deputy Colonel in Chief took position with the Colonel of the Regiment and the Association Padre John Murdoch led the drumhead service. For us all that service meant differ- ent things, generations of reflection and experience all galvanised by one Regimental Standard.
Maj Brett Taylor, wearing his other hat as party plan- ner, had stayed behind with his sleeve cuffs rolled up to ensure the Leuchars side of the festivities were in fine fettle for 5 decades of trouble. There is no rest for the pipes and drums during events like this and once we were back in Leuchars and changed for the eve-