T H E C O V E N A N T E R
13. Major G. Maxwell 24 be at Westminster Abbey for the opening
14. Colonel J.G. d’Inverno 28 of the Field of Remembrance Service. I
mention this, simply because these last
Officers London Luncheon
twelve months have gone by so rapidly that
it has almost taken my breath away.
Friday 23rd May 2003
Last year I discovered that any regiment,
or regimental association, could have their
The Officer’s annual London Luncheon was
plots at Westminster Abbey laid out by the
held at the Army and Navy Club St. James’s
Royal British Legion (RBL) garden workers.
Square of Friday 23rd May 2003. Attendance
I contacted one of the RBL officials at
was well up on the previous year and it
Richmond about this, and he assured me
was good to see people from far and wide
that this was the case. As a consequence of
including several from Scotland and also
this, I went down to Richmond armed with
from Northumberland and France. It was
a blown up print of our plot, and met the
gratifying to find people still attending for
official, whereupon it was arranged that
the first time, namely Robert Maxwell who
our Cameronian plot would be laid out as
was a National Service Officer with the 1st
specified in the photograph. As there was
Battalion and Regiment Depot between
a fee to be paid for this service, I kept the
1952-1954 and who served subsequently
Regimental Trustees informed, and they
with the 6/7th Battalion.
agreed to meet the cost of our plot being
The following attended:
organised by the RBL.
On the morning of 6th November, I arrived
at Westminster Abbey feeling a bit anxious
Mr and Mrs G. C. M. Brunker
as to how our plot would look. I needn’t
Miss A. Brunker
have worried, the RBL staff had done a fine
job, and our plot looked as I hoped it would.
Colonel R. D. Buchanan-Dunlop CBE
As in previous years the turnout for the
LT Col. J. Burrell
occasion was massive, as were the security
arrangements. At approximately 11.30am
Lt Col. A. Campbell
the service began, and on its conclusion
Capt. DR. Craig
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh commenced
Mr and Mrs N. S. I. Daglish
his tour of inspection. I was impressed by
the fact that he was stopping and talking
Maj. P. R. Grant to every regimental representative, which
Mr J. Hawtrey-Woore
meant that for an eighty two year old, it
was quite a feat of endurance. However,
Mr and Mrs D. G. P. Heathcote
he may be sound in wind and limb, but
Mr J. A. Irvine
I’m afraid his mind faltered a wee bit. On
stopping in front of me he asked, glancing
Capt. I. M. Lindsay-Smith
at my medals, if I had served in the Royal
Col and Mrs J. N. D. Lucas
Navy? With great tact and diplomacy I
assured HRH that all my army service
Col H. Mackay O.B.E.
had been with the Cameronians (Scottish
Mrs L. M. Mackintosh
Rifles), whereupon he gave a little wry grin
and moved on. Royal Navy indeed!
Lt Col and Mrs F. C. Matthews
So, another remembrance service passed
Mr R. J. Maxwell C.B.E.
off brilliantly, also the weather matched
Mr J. D. Muir
the occasion, the temperature rising to 65
0
Fahrenheit was the ‘icing on the cake’.
Mrs L. Smith (daughter of John Muir) I’m afraid we had a very poor regimental
Maj I. C. Park-Weir
turnout, apart from myself, the only other
attendees were Tom Gore (Ex 9th Bn) and
Capt. and Mrs J. A. C. Weir
his wife Dorothy. I had hoped that more
Mr I. R. Wightwick M.C.
people would have turned out, however, I
look forward to a better attendance next
Letter From London
year.
I was deeply saddened to hear that Mr
As I commence writing this letter, It is the
(RSM) John Sneddon had passed away. Big
5th November, 2003, and tomorrow I will
Jake, as he was known affectionately by all
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