Published: Friday, 30th June, 2006 12:31
Emotional farewell to Royal Scots
By Atholl Innes
Print Article
THE Royal Scots marched through Peebles for the last time on Friday in an emotional farewell to match that of Edinburgh’s goodbye to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers on the same evening.
Thousands packed the High Street several rows deep from Veitch’s Corner to the Parish Church, and cheered and applauded as the regiment, led by the pipe band playing “Bonnie Dundee”, marched along and the back.
It was a sentimental occasion summed up by Joe Smith, from Edinburgh: “This is a sad day, but a proud moment for all soldiers.”
The crowd numbers were boosted by the attraction of the annual Beltane fancy dress parade, but the talk on Tweed Green, where the judging took place, was of the Freedom March.
“We must get up and get a place on the High Street,” one couple said. “We would not want to miss it.”
Captain David Younger, Lord Lieutenant for Tweeddale, took the salute.
Later, Lance Corporal Mark McInally told the Peeblesshire News: “I know there was a fancy dress on, but the crowds were amazing and they gave the lads a big send-off.
“The regiment has just returned from Basra in Iraq, although we are based locally at Dreghorn.”
And looking to the future, when it will be known as the Royal Scots Borderers Regiment, he added: “We now have to move on and there will be a lot more opportunities for people and also for promotion.”
The Beltane Committee had invited the Royal Scots to Beat the Retreat on the Saturday night, but they were unable to fulfil that engagement.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
Peeblesshire News saves Borders schools £200,000