THE COVENANTER
Association Chairman, Andy Berry, has his funny rejoinder. I am sure that this is
successfully undergone eye surgery, due to the fact that, as Prince Philip walked
which has saved him from possible future away, Air Marshal lan MacFadyen, the RBL
blindness. Well done, Andy. You can now National President, descended upon me,
send me down your white stick, as I may shook my hand and started chatting to me.
need it soon. As he walked away, it was then the turn of
Word also reaches me that Colonel Hugh the Dean of Westminster Abbey, The Very
Mackay is still doing sterling work several Reverend Dr John Hall, who shook my hand
times a year in his capacity as a Regimental and had a few words with me. So, as you
Trustee. This task involves his having to fly can imagine, it was a rather whirlwind few
back and forth up to Glasgow, where he is minutes for me. What followed next was
faithfully met and motored around by Alex quite hilarious. My daughter, Helen, who
and Beth Maxwell. What a team: well done had taken up a vantage point to allow her
all of you! to take photographs, was almost trampled
I will now close this letter by saying I hope underfoot by David Davis, the Tory Shadow
to meet many of you at Douglas next May. Home Secretary, as he scrambled across the
Wishing you all a happy and guid new path to meet someone. Then it was my
year. turn. As the Royal Party came towards me,
Yours, a television crew filming the event almost
Eddie Clark brained me with a large camera. If I hadn’t
swerved in true boxing fashion, I have no
Westminster Abbey 2007
doubt I would have been counted out.
Ah well. Even Westminster Abbey has its
As I mentioned in my “Letter from London”,
exciting, and fraught, moments!
the opening ceremony at Westminster
Once again it was delightful to see some
Abbey was due on 8th November. However,
ex-Cameronians on parade, namely Majors
by 7th November, I had not received my
Philip Grant and Mike Sixsmith, Eddie
security pass, or any information regarding
Crawford, lan Bilboe, Alex McBride, Tom
the occasion. I immediately contacted
and Dorothy Gore, myself and Helen.
the person concerned at the Royal British
Afterwards, some of the party retired to
Legion, who informed me that everything
the Union Jack Club where we enjoyed an
had been sent to me a week previously. It
excellent lunch. For me, this is a wonderful
was now 17th November and I still had not
received my pass from the RBL. Apparently
the postal sorting office in the area where
I live has a very militant trades union staff
who are working to rule, despite the latest
strike being resolved; hence, the reason for
the postal mayhem.
The RBL rose to the occasion on the day,
and I was cleared to take up my position at
our plot.
Once again, I was delighted and heartened
by another good attendance at the Abbey.
Despite the weather being a wee bit dreich
early on, it cleared up sufficiently by the
time HRH Prince Philip arrived (Her Majesty
the Queen had been given a rest day). As
usual, Prince Philip did a splendid job,
stopping and speaking to every regimental
representative. When he stopped .in front of
me, he bade me “good morning” and asked
how’ I was keeping. When I assured him
that I felt fine, I then congratulated him,
and Her Majesty, on the occasion of their
diamond wedding anniversary this month. I
know that his reply was very funny, because
we both laughed heartily. However, I am
ashamed to admit that I cannot remember
8
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