March 2010

From Cabarfeidh.com

Over my Coffee Break this month is from Alister MacGillvray
To download the form and take part in Over My Coffee Please click here.

Oor Wee Shop Is Now Open for Business
As you can now see we have added a shop to the website.
The reason for this is first and foremost to support the Museum while they get their own shop up and running on their website,please note all the items you order I will be getting through the Museum and will be posted from them directly.
Secondly is so that you Loons and Quines oot there can shop online for the Queen’s Own Highlanders most popular items and also help support the Museum.
Your,s Aye
Seoras McIntosh

This Month’s Topic
It is coming up to that time again when Bob Towns is deciding on the date for the AGM for the Highland Branch.
The question I have for this month’s discussion for Highland Branch Members is, should we make the AGM a social affair including wives in the future, as they do in the Edinburgh Branch?
My second question is should wives get more involved with the running of the association?
If you wish to remain anonymous with your answers in the guest book just type in blank for the name and blank@blank.com for the email address this will mean you will not receive conformation of your entry.
Of course I have to say that the best way to give your opinion on these matters and be fair to Bob is to attend the AGM
Seoras McIntosh.

Functions coming off this Month:
Nill so far

Seoras McIntosh
Dave Watson

Looking For A Job

Hello to you all,
Another interesting website for any Veterans getting ready to leave the forces…hope this helps.
Please go to the following website.
http://civilianjobs.mod.uk
Regards
Dave Wilson

Download the Justgiving poster

Dear All,
It is requested that you fwd/cascade the attached to all branches of your Regimental Association. It is designed to provide support to all battalions’ whist on operations. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Justgiving poster v1.
FR Morton
Major Retired
Asst Reg Sec 1
Tel: Military 94740 5090 Civilian 0131 310 5090
E-mail: asstregsec@rhqscots.army.mod.uk
www.Justgiving.com/rhqscots
The Royal Regiment of Scotland Association, a Registered Scottish Charity Number SCO37561

To download the poster in PDF Format click here.

Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience

Dear All
A BBC2 programme you might wish to watch on 30th Mar.
I quote;
NNMP has recently completed work on BBC Wales's "Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience". This series featured the Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert as he put his hands to trying various jobs - bin man, mum, hairdresser and soldier. The soldier episode was originally broadcast on BBC Wales on 9 Feb and featured Mr Gilbert embedded for two days with an INFBS Platoon Sgts' Battle Course on SENTA.
As background, Mr Gilbert hosts a popular radio programme on BBC Radio Wales on a Saturday morning, is the current "Voice of Wales" for the Wales Tourist Board's UK television advertising campaign and has previously entertained the troops in Basra.
This programme is now being repeated country-wide on BBC 2 on Tue 30 Mar at 22:00hrs. It is very rare for a regional programme to be picked up nationally by either BBC1 or 2. Having seen the initial broadcast on BBC Wales, it is light hearted in nature and provides an interesting insight of soldiers on exercise.
Kind reagrds
Maurice Gibson
Regimental Secretary. .

Seaforth Highlanders Annual Reunion Dinner 2010.

Last night, 12th March with camera in hand, I set off from Elgin to go to the National Hotel Dingwall to attend the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Branch) 61st Regimental Association Annual reunion dinner. I have attended the dinner for a number of years now and always had an excellent evening and last night was no exception. The new Chairman of the branch, Mr Joe Yates made us all feel very welcome.
The first speaker of the night was Lt. Col. Colin F. Gilmour M.B.E. DL. giving a talk on the TA and the Cadets, followed by Major M.R.M. Gibson M.B.E. keeping us updated on what is going on in The Highlanders - 4Scots. Mr D. Kennedy, Deputy Lieutenant, Ross-shire, gave a talk on the Association and the reply was given by W. Williamson, Committee member. Piper H. Watson played Cabarfeidh and then gave The Regimental Toast. Bugler for the evening was John Fairfield from Liverpool.
One of the highlights of the evening for me was meeting 94 year old Alexander Murray from Invergordon who told me that he was a prisoner of war with the Germans for two years working in a quarry, forced to wear chains on his legs from morning till night. In the photographs page you will see Mr Murray being presented with a bottle of whisky from Ian McLeod of the Association.
To view Photographs of the evening please go to the Photos/Poems page.
Seoras McIntosh.

Dates for your Diary

Gentlemen
Your members may be interested in the outline programme for 'local' Armed Forces Day(s) in 2010 which has been put out by Brigadier David Allfrey MBE, Commander 51st Scottish Bde, Stirling.
Lerwick - Jun 19th (tbc).
Kirkwall - Jun 19th (tbc).
Stirling - Jun 19th.
Ayr - Jun 19th (tbc).
Glasgow - Jun 26th.
Aberdeen - Jun 26th.
Edinburgh - Jun 26th.
Perth - Jul 2nd.
Dundee - Jul 3rd.
Inverness - Jul 24th (tbc).
There may well be other events planned that the Brigade are not yet aware off.
Association Branch members and Association Pipe Bands are encouraged to get involved (Parade, March, attend events etc).
Lt Col L McKinney- Bennett is the Brigadiers Project Officer and more will come from Brigade in due course.
Please pass the info on as appropriate (get it in the Diaries) and await further instructions in due course.
Regards
Maurice Gibson.

AM-AM Golf Tournament

Golfers.
Erskine are organising an AM AM Golf Tournament at Loch Ness Golf Course, Inverness for Sept 10th 2010.
Entry per 4 golfer team is £200. This includes; Bacon Rolls, 18 holes of Golf, 2 Course Meal after round, Goody bag.
Best 2 net scores will count and apart from winning team prizes for ladies and gents, individual prizes will be given for Nearest the Pin and Longest Drive. There will be a raffle in the Clubhouse.
If you would like to support Erskine and have a great day out please complete the attached Form;
Regards
Maurice Gibson
Regimental Secretary.
To download entry form in PDF Format click here.

NOTTS BRANCH SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS ASSOCIATION

The minutes of the Notts Branch Seaforth Highlanders Association are now hear for you to read
Please click on the link below.
Your Aye.
Charlie Gusterson

To view in Office Word click here.
To view in PDF Format click here.

REGIMENTAL GOLF OUTING

Please see attached for details of the Regimental Golf Outing.
Also would you be kind enough to fill in the entry form and send it back to me as soon as possible.
Yours Aye
Albert Duffus

To view details and entry form in Office Word click here.
To view details and entry form in PDF Format click here.

Ross Mackenzie 85

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Ross 85 Mackenzie.
For details of his funeral arrangements please go to the obituaries page.

Lt. Col. I.M. Fraser OBE

It is with regret that we announce the death of Lt. Col. I.M. Fraser OBE who died at home on Saturday 27th February 2010. For details of his funeral arrangements please go to the obituaries page.
Mick Low

February 2010

From Cabarfeidh.com

Over my Coffee Break this month is from Robbie MacKintosh.
To download the form and take part in Over My Coffee Please click here.

We would like your help
We are looking at putting up a monthly topic on the website that we can all discuses through the guest book page, you can help by suggesting a topic of the month and we will put it up here. The topic doesn’t have to be about The Queen’s Own Highlanders, it can be about anything relevant to the armed forces.
All you have to do is email us with the topic.

This months topic of converstion is:- Ideas and suggestions as to the format of the Regimental gathering planned for 2011 including the most suitable weekend. This topic was suggested by Bob Towns.
Come on now lads in my travels I hear you say you never get asked anything, well here’s your chance to air your views. Just put it up on the Leave a Message Page.
You can view a sample of suggestions given by Bob Towns in Office Word here.
Seoras.

Functions coming off this Month:

The Edinburgh Branch Amalgamation Dinner - 6^th February 2010 - Ex-Servicemens Club, Leith
The Highland Branch Amalgamation Dinner - 6^th February 2010 - Royal British Legion, Inverness

Seoras McIntosh
Dave Watson

Pipe Band Practice

There is a Pipes and Drums practice this Sunday 28th February weather permitting.
Please try to attend as there are a great deal of matters to be discussed.
Your aye
Andy Venters. .

Colin Hughes requires your assistance

I`ve read quite a lot about The Regiment that I served with for nine years but not a lot from The Jocks themselves. There is a wealth of information out there that needs to be recorded and I`m looking for experiences, sad, or funny, with the intention of perhaps publishing a book. If insufficient content comes forth then at least it can be stored on file in the Regimental Museum for future generations.
I`m looking for tales from Borneo, Brunei, Berlin, Northern Ireland, Hong Kong, Belize, and The Gulf. As we approach our 50th year and memories begin to fail it is important that we record or tales whilst still reasonably fresh in our minds.
It doesn`t matter if your scribbling’s are hand or type written, grammatically correct or mis-spelt as this can be corrected if you so wish. Alternatively, it can be left as written to add `flavour` to the overall content.
Looking forward to hearing from you all.
Yours Aye.
Colin Hughes ( Scouse)
All you have to do is email Colin with your stories.

The Latest News from RHQ

Gentlemen,
Could you advise your members that the ARMY Football Team are due to play (weather permitting) the RAF Football Team.
on Wednesday March 3rd (KO 7.30pm) at Boroughbriggs - Elgin City Football Ground. Elgin.
ALL SUPPORT WELCOME.

Dear Mr Gibson.
Re:Book for Heroes.
I hope you do not mind me contacting you but I am the very proud father of 2 sons serving in HM Forces and for the past 12 months I have been seeking funny stories about life in the military. The hope is that when sufficient stories have been collected they will be published in book form and ALL the proceeds will be divided equally between the charities "Combat Stress" and "Help for Heroes". I wonder if you could help by raising attention to the above within your regiment?
Mr Kevin Humphreys
3 Golden oak Dell
Stannington
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
S6 6FN
All you have to do is email Kevin with your stories.
Kind regards
Maurice Gibson
Regimental Secretary.

A request from Charlie Gusterson

Hi lads and lassies, can you please have a look at the link below and I would be much obliged if you can help with the fund raising.
Regards
Charlie Gusterson.
To view in Office Word click here.
To view in PDF Format click here.

Subject: MPs medals "So wrong"

Can you all take time to read this and add your names please. I didn't know this but MPs get a medal for visiting a war zone. They don't have to do time in country like our service personnel and they don't have to wait months afterwards to get presented with the thing. Medals are all the recognition we as soldiers get for spending long months in staggeringly deprived locations getting shot at and blown up. The most action and flak an MP sees is over their expenses. As we saw with the Wootton Basset petition thousands of signatures in a short space of time did make the government act. They cannot ignore the voters. Especially now with elections looming. Please take the time to sign this petition and please encourage all your family to also do so. Where it asks for your name also add on the same line former military if you were. You will see what others have done. I think this adds just a little more bite to the petition. Once again get everyone with an email address to sign, including neighbours. Lets do our service personal this small service for all the danger they face and hard work they complete in the name of our country.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/notompmedals/
Kind regards
Maurice Gibson

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INFANTRY REGIMENT

Please click on the link below to read how you can support your local regiment
Regards
FR Morton
Major Retired
Asst Reg Sec 1.

To view in Office Word click here.
To view in PDF Format click here.

Request from Peter Guthrie

Seoras,
Further to the questions we received on Saturday about how folk go about buying Regimental merchandise, the girls in the Museum have kindly given me a price list of everything they have for sale (attached). As I said to everyone on Saturday, we will be reviewing this stock over the next year to ensure we are selling the products that people want to buy, and we will be consulting with the members of the associations to ensure they are catered for. Until the new shop is finalised, I hope that the attached will tide people over. I would be most grateful if you would consider putting the list on cabarfeidh.com.
Many thanks,
Pete.
To view the price list in PDF Format click here.

Speech given by Major (Retd) Maurice Gibson MBE

I have attached the speech that Major (Retd) Maurice Gibson MBE gave at the Highland Branch Association Dinner Feb 6th 2010
Thank you Maurice for allowing us to put your speech up on the website.
Tosh23.

To view in Office Word click here.
To view in PDF Format click here.

Edinburgh Branch Amalgamation Dinner

Please find attached a report on the Edinburgh Branch Amalgamation Dinner held on the 6th February 2010.
Photos of the evening are now up for you to view in the photo/poems page.
Regards
George Givens
Chairman
Edinburgh Branch

To view in Office Word click here.
To view in PDF Format click here.

Highland Branch Amalgamation Dinner

Please finde attached my report on the Highland Branch Amalgamation Dinner.
If you go to the photo/poems page you can view the photos of the evening.
Your's Aye,
Bob Towns
To view in Office Word click here.
To view in PDF Format click here.

George Alexander Brown

It is with much regret that we have to announce the death of George Alexander Brown.
For funeral details please go to the obituaries page. If anyone is coming over I can accommodate a few, let me know.
Terry Bashford

ROAD WARRIORS

Documentary of Interest to Army Personnel.
ROAD WARRIORS
EPISODE 1 OF 4, THURSDAY 4TH FEBRUARY, ITV1 22:35
Thousands of miles from the UK, each episode of ITV's Road Warriors follows a mission from start to finish as hundreds of miles are driven to deliver supplies to frontline troops.
The film meets the people behind the uniforms, including Lisa West and her fiancé Karl Cracknell, who both serve at Camp Bastion and are often in the same convoy. It also captures a serious life and death situation for Sgt Mark Devine when he takes a wrong turn during the night.
The series shows the reality of being caught in the middle of raging Taliban gunfire, tracks a suicide bomber as he searches for the convoy and shows the emotional reunions which take place when the troops arrive back home to see their friends and family.
For more information, see http://army.mod.uk/events/events/18861.aspx
Road Warriors; Episode 1 of 4, Thursday 4th February, ITV1 22:35
Road Warriors: The Extra Mile, featuring highlights from the main series along with unseen footage that expands the original stories, starts on Friday 5th February on ITV4 at 21:00.
Kind regards
Maurice Gibson.

E-mail cabarfeidh.com here