Page 92 - RSDG Year of 2023

90 EAGLE AND CARBINE
donated ‘Welcome Home’ banners that were made for the Regiment returning from Mali. These huge, brilliant and colourful items really show the thoughtfulness, joy and relief that comes from everyone returning safely. The Serving Regiment has also been incredibly helpful with making sure the events of the last year can be shown in the Museum. From Mali they brought back objects including the Camp Bagnold sign and after Operation GOLDEN ORB they donated an empty port bottle. Each person on parade had taken a glass of port to toast the King and then signed the bottle – a wonderfully thoughtful and unique object for such an important occasion. A wonderful selection of photographs and archival material was also donated to the Museum by Diaana Graham, widow of the late Lieutenant Colonel Martin Graham. They cover his long career with the Scots Greys and Royal Scots Dragoon Guards including his time in the Air Squadron and through to Operation GRANBY.
In September we welcomed Chris Andrews as the new archivist. He will be responsible for improving the records and storage of all our archival material. This will improve our organisational knowledge of the collection and longer-term help to raise awareness of this fantastic resource. We want this collection to be used by researchers, families and the Regiment to explore the Regimental history.
In March we worked with colleagues from the museums of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Scots to hold a Regimental History Day at Edinburgh Castle. For us the highlight was the Serving Regiment bringing a Jackal from Leuchars for the day which contrasted with the regimental past brought by our Waterloo reenactor in Scots Greys uniform complete with grey horse. The visitors loved being able to meet the soldiers, find out
The Welcome Home banners being presented to the Museum Curator
more about the Regiment and have their photographs taken with the Jackal.
We have also continued to run “make and take” sessions at Leuchars Community Centre. A particular highlight (possibly not for the parents) was the homemade bagpipes activity to greet the visit of the Deputy Colonel-in-Chief which brought quizzical looks and lots of screeching. For Easter the children made toilet roll soldiers and incredibly none of them realised the bearskin hid a chocolate egg until they had left the room. A relief for museum staff that thought they might have to hide them all!
Meanwhile the Shop has had an equally busy year. It has had a record turnover which augurs well for the end of the financial year when it distributes its profits although, inevitably, the cost of buying stock and the increase in the routine expenditure will affect the final results. There was a turnover in part-time staff in the summer but the manager, Teresa Park, always found a way to cover any gaps while new staff were recruited.
The miniature medals of His Royal Highness Prince Arthur of Connaught