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7 minutes
The City of Stirling is dominated by Stirling Castle, the most strategically important castle in Scottish history. Near the Castle is the magnificent church of the Holy Rude. On Remembrance Sunday, 9 November 2008, a Remembrance Service took place at Holy Rude to honour our military personnel who lost their lives in the service of us, the people who put a cross on a ballot paper. After the service, the dignitaries and important people took up position in front of the municipal building in Corn Exchange Road where the slightly raised platform allowed us to see Mrs Marjory McLachlan the Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk. By her side was Provost of Stirling Fergus Woods TD in fine kilted regalia. Provost Fergus returned the salute as the parade came down Spittal Street and swung right for an eyes-right in real military fashion.
The parade was led by a pipe band that had no name. Maybe we should call them, ‘Clint Eastwood’ (mmm you had to see the movie). They were in fact a magnificent collection of pipers and drummers from serving and ex service and TA (Territorial Army). They were followed by the Standard Bearers (Colour Party). First was the Queens Colour (The Union Flag) carried by John Bell, followed by the RBLS Stirling Branch Standard (Tri Service Rep) carried by Alan Jack MBE, then the Royal Naval Association Branch Standard (the Senior Service), carried by Andy McDonald MBE. On his right is the Royal Engineers Association Forth Valley Branch Standard (Red with two blue lines) carried by Eddie Lyle and on Andy's left hand side is the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Branch Standard carried by Chalky White. They were followed by the old and bold still able to undertake the march down the hill. Following them were Army cadets, Air Force Cadets, Scouts and the Ambulance Service. Bringing up the rear are 3 individuals wearing bright yellow fluorescent jackets, the Road Marshall carrying a wreath closest to the camera is Mike Prunty, ex Royal Highland Fusiliers, the holder of a DSM (Distinguished Service Medal), awarded for saving the lives of comrades under fire in Singapore.
They were watched by the good folks of Stirling who managed to brave some real heavy rain showers and hail. The service at the War Memorial was taken by the Rev. Ian Paterson, the Interim Moderator of the Church of the Holy Rude. The most senior (by rank and serving) soldier on parade was Colonel A. Taverner, the Deputy Commander 51st (Scottish) Brigade. The lament was played by Pipe Major Sandy Davidson MBE and the Last Post and Reveille was played by Bugler Fraser Harris.
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4 minutes
Laying wreaths:
(1) Marjory McLachlan The Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk (Queens representative) with two young people in uniform.
(2) The Provost of Stirling, Fergus Wood (green jacket and kilt).
(3) Local MP Anne McGuire (long black coat).
(4) MSP Bruce Crawford (dark rimmed spectacles).
(5) SNP councillor Scott Farmer.
(6) Colonel A Taverner, Deputy Commander 51st (Scottish) Brigade (red striped black trouser military uniform) along with an unknown rep.
(7) Uniformed Rep for the Royal Regiment of Scotland (Glengarry head dress with cap badge of 'The Royal Highland Fusiliers').
(8) Roy McAlister for the RBLS Stirling Branch, Iain McRobbie for the Royal Naval Association and Frank Sutherland for Ex Argylls.
(9) Billy Marshall for the Corps of Royal Engineers and another as yet unidentified.
(10) Dean of Guildry, Ian Crawford and Stirling Council Chief Executive Keith Yates.
(11) Reps from the Police and Fire Services.
(12) Unidentified man in light blue jacket
(13) Young soldier and two Air force Cadets.
(14) Young woman (Scout), young Soldier with 'Tam O' shanter' head dress, Major Bob Elliot from the Castle Museum.
(15) Young Soldier and woman in 'Red Cross' Fluorescent jacket.
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5 minutes
Are you a Veteran? Why not join your local Association. Swap stories, make fiends and maybe join in a parade now and then. Currently there are over 55,000 fee paying members of the Scottish Legion but there are half a million Veterans in Scotland.
Poppy Scotland by Alan Jack, Secretary of the Royal British Legion Stirling (Scotland, UK) Branch.
A lot of people do not realise that in the UK there are two separate poppy charities with two distinctly different poppy emblems. South of the border the poppy has only two petals and comes with a green leaf. North of the border the poppy has four petals and no leaf! At the national launch of this year's appeal in Stirling Castle after the Interdenominational Service of Thanksgiving for the recent fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan in the Church of the Holy Rude it was noted that during the 2007 appeal the average donation for a poppy in England etc was 75p while for Scotland it was 55p. If you decide to make a donation on line to either of these worthwhile charities please ensure you are donating to the correct charity! http://www.poppyscotland.org.uk/