T H E C O V E N A N T E R
The Covenanter - 2001 Issue quite speechless. having now regained my
Sir,
speech; I wish to thank all members of the
Cameronians (SR) and family members for
I am sorry to have taken so long to write,
the beautiful miniature whisky decanter
but I have been extremely busy with the
and glasses bearing the regimental crest,
day job, which has encroached further into
these items I assure you will be treasured.
the night as SQA deadlines draw nearer.
I now congratulate the Rev Jim Strachan,
I thoroughly enjoyed the latest issue the Rev Brian Kerr and the pupils of Irvine
of The Covenanter and found a lot of Academy for a wonderful afternoon of
interesting information packed into its excellent sermons, music, and song. The
pages. Reading the various contributions, musical highlight of the afternoon for me
what has impressed me is the continuing came when a talented young man playing
spirit of The Cameronians and how, the piano went through a repertoire of
despite so many adverse circumstances, tunes from the past including a wartime
it continues to show and to flourish. The
song recorded by the lovely singer Ann
Covenanter continues to be excellent
Shelton. The song entitled “Lay Down
value for money and is a great source of
Your Arms and Surrender to Mine”. Just
information about life in the Regiment,
before the record was released for sale some
containing so much that is personal to the
buffoons at the War Office had it banned,
writers and that might easily be missed by
citing that it could cause servicemen to take
a ‘formal’ historian.
the words literally and so cause morale to
At Irvine Royal Academy we have come
be badly affected. A short time later sanity
through the first set of Burns Competitions
prevailed and the record was released for
with two first places and one second,
general sale. The reaction of our servicemen
despite having a team which was under
was incredible, instead of morale being
strength because people were ill. We are
badly affected, it had the opposite effect
now working on a presentation entitled
and Ann Shelton and the song became a
‘What makes a Hero?’ for Cameronian
massive morale booster.
Sunday. All our award winners will be
The next number played brought back
present and I hope that you will enjoy our
memories of me sitting on my grandads
part in the afternoon.
knee as he sang the words of “Keep Right
I look forward to meeting you again
on to the End of the Road”, I was a wee
then. Meanwhile, the Rector and I both
laddie of three or four then. So when the
send our congratulations on yet another
congregation sand the words of this lovely
old song I joined in with great gusto, as
first-class issue of The Covenanter - not
Jack Gibson who was sitting in the pew
that we would have expected any less from
in front of me will attest. Childhood
The Cameronians! - and our best wishes for
memories indeed! I have no doubt that the
future issues.
dedication ceremony at the Cairn will be
well documented elsewhere, so suffice to
Yours etc,
say here, that it was a very moving service
Richard Fowler,
beautifully conducted.
Teacher in charge,
Since leaving the army in 1968 I have
Irvine Royal Academy Burns Club.
always looked forward to, and thoroughly
enjoyed what I and my late wife Ellen
Letter from London called “Our Cameronian Weekend”, this
On the 12th of May I was delighted to
year was no exception. Meeting all my
attend Cameronian Sunday at Douglas. As
old regimental friends, and all the friends
usual the event was very well organised. I
of younger generations of Cameronians
was highly honoured at being selected to
is for me a heart-warming experience, I
would like to thank everyone who made
carry the huge bible to the high altar prior
my weekend a huge success, especially Alex
to the beginning of the service.
and Beth Maxwell who picked me up at
However, I was again highly honoured,
Glasgow Airport, wined and dined me over
and stunned, when Jack Gibson outlined
the weekend and returned me safely to the
to the large congregation my work
Airport for my flight back to London. I look
at Westminster Abbey in laying out
forward to seeing you all again in May 2003.
regimental plot for the past two years.
On Thursday 24th october I received
Then, to my astonishment, he made
official notification from The Royal British
a presentation to me on behalf of the
Legion that this years’ opening of the Field
members of the organisation which left me
of Remembrance would be attended by Her
56
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