Page 72 - RSDG Year of 2022 CREST

76 EAGLE AND CARBINE
ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
This being my first note for the Eagle and Carbine as Association Chairman, I thought I would take the opportunity to highlight what I believe the Association is all about. Starting with the key fact: there is no formal membership which means that anyone who has served, is serving, or who serves in the future is automatically part of the Association for life once they leave regular service.
With that fact firmly in mind, my overriding message is to say that “the Association will be whatever the members want it to be”. Whatever it takes to get and keep people together is paramount. This allows the Association to fulfil one of its main functions of providing support in the event of someone needing assistance, whatever form that may take. In short, we need to be around each other when we don’t need help, so that we are already in position when help is needed. Facebook and Instagram help us all do this, but the direct link to the Serving Regiment and Home Headquarters is also fundamental – and all these links are connected on www.scotsdg.org.uk. There is also a directory on the website which we can all join: from there we can connect privately and directly to each other, especially helpful when seeking to find those we have lost touch with over the years.
Of course, nothing is better than meeting face to face and there have been many excellent opportunities over this year. However, I would like to highlight two central events, leaving the Branches to cover the remainder.
Cavalry Memorial Parade took place as usual in Hyde Park on the second Sunday in May and drew a big crowd from the Regiment, past and present, as well as thousands of civilian spectators, to remember the fallen in a very poignant parade under the dappled shade around the Band stand near Hyde Park Corner.
At the other end of the year, a group of 26 from the Association marched passed the Cenotaph for the first Remembrance taken by King Charles. Our grey berets clearly caught the selectors eye and we received good national coverage on the BBC. It was a real privilege to be at this National Remembrance event which drew an enormous crowd; the clapping as we marched passed was phenomenal and extremely humbling.
Looking forward, I hope those of you reading this article might be encouraged to attend one or more events next time, and drag a Regimental pal or two with you. I sense that many are put off by the formal elements, if so, please come along informally in the crowd and join in the banter afterwards in a suitable hostelry. Looking even further forward, one idea is to use the network to encourage more informal gatherings around the country, even just a pie and pint. Remembering that we need to be connected when we don’t need help, so that we are already in position when help is needed.
Fathers and Sons. Capt Luke Lambert, Col Charlie Lambert, Capt Jim Maclachlan, Capt Rory Maclachlan, Colonel of the Regiment – Brig Ben Edwards, Lt Rory Edwards