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First Tune of 2011
Six Eight Quick March Dave ( Siggy ) Swan. ( I Dont Know You Sir )
David (Siggy ) Swan was a Piper in the 1st Bn Scots Guards when I left the Regiment 1969. I was on a visit to Scotland 1974, was in the Edinburgh area and noticed there was a Pipe Band Competition going on out at the International Sports Ground, cant remember what its called. Out there I noticed a Scots Guards Band Tuning and on getting closer recognized it to be the 2nd Bn. I happened to be standing a few feet away listening to a L/Sgt tuning up his back was to me, on turning round I saw it was Dave Swan. I approached closer and said ' Hi how are you ' the reply I got was, ' Sorry Sir I dont know you ' I didnt realize I had changed that much in what?, Five Years. Mind you I did have a full Grown Beard so?, was that it. Well I didnt hang around to find out, I was off. Havent seen anyone since.
Two Four Quick March ' 1st Bn Scots Guards Farewell To Edinburgh '
We left Malaya Camp Terendak late 1967 on our way to Edinburgh, I signed on for another three years, with the thought of going on longer depending what happened regards promotion. By the time 1969 came along I was thinking of departing the Guards, I had been offered the 2nd Bn something I wasnt keen on. Luckily I had a way out, the Trucial Oman Scouts were looking for a Pipe Major. Like most things in the Army or maybe just the Guards this information is usually binned and no one is any the wiser. I applied for the job and was happy when I was accepted. I was on my way, or so I thought. It took me nearly three Months to reach Sharjah I literally had to walk out, and make my own way. Did they want me to leave?, I dont know but I guess they dont like to see themselves as second best. Was I glad to get there ( Sharjah ) D/Major Thompson met me at the Airport and the first thing he said was ' Where have you been, I have been up and down to this Airport for the last three Months hoping to see you come off the Plane.' There you are then shows what sort of experience I was having simply because I didnt want stay with the Guards. My time with the Trucial Oman Scouts were the best I ever spent in the Army, what a difference to the Guards.I would have seen my time out with them had they let me, but the British Army was pulling out as Instructors so that was that. I did have the offer of a few good jobs but declined them and returned Home as a Civilian. I have come full cycle now so no more Tunes from me with Scots Guards in the Title. I have been recording all places where I have served with the 1st Bn. London, Wellington Barracks is the only Place left where I was as a 16yr old so maybe I could do one more?. We shall see ( DONE ) UPDATE I have a feeling I have left one or two out?, will ask my Mate David Harris he will know. Dave and I go a long way back we were in Boy Service together him being a Boy Drummer and me a Boy Piper. Its a friendship thats lasted all these years, and still going strong. When I have written a Tune for it I will tell you about a little incident that happened a long time ago.
Jig ' Bagging The Chaff '
Farming was always my first Love.When I was 15 I wanted to go to Australia with what they called back then ' The Big Brother Movement ' I needed my Parents signatures, my Mother was okay with it my Father threw the papers in the fire, so that was that. I was going to swan around until I was Eighteen then make a move and go to Australia as soon as possible. Never turned out that way Joined the Guards instead.
I worked on a Farm during my School Holidays and Army Leave, and loved it. To me it wasn't one job but a variety of jobs. When I was old enough to be around a Threshing Machine, as a Twelve year old I was always put at the end of the Machine, ' Bagging The Chaff ' which was the worst job going. I wanted to have a Fork in my Hand pitching the stooks up or maybe something else, being so young I was'nt allowed to do anything other than Bagging. I loved the Dinner Breaks we used to go into a wee Chippy have a braw sit down meal and I would listen to the Banter that went on with the farmers. Great Times.......
3/4 ' Leaving Wellington Barracks London ' ( 1st Bn Scots Guards )
I arrived in the 1st Bn Scots Guards around February 1956. The Bn were doing what is called Royal Duties, Mounting Guards at Buckingham Palace, The Bank of England, St James Palace etc etc. it wasnt a good place for a Boy Piper to be simply because it was so dam expensive. I couldnt afford a visit to a cinema. My pay for a Boy back then was 7shillings and sixpence, roughly 37and a half pence a week. I liked London but was glad when we moved on. We moved to Lydd which was more to my liking, I could afford to pay for a night at the cinema. I think by this time I was getting about Fifty Pence so I was fairly rich.
On To Airth
I remember way back in the mists of time we had played at a do somewhere near Edinburgh. We had finished early and I recall Pipey saying ' On to Airth'. What this meant no one new. We arrived at Airth and debussed and proceeded to Tune Up.What an evening we had, it was an impromtu session outside a well known Pub in Airth. We had the time of our lives played through virtually everthing we knew and some more. As you see it was something that stayed with me all these years, cant say more than that.
Lament For Jimmy Dignon
1st Bn: Scots Guards Farewell To Victoria Brks Windsor
This is the last of them, all the places I was Stationed with the 1st Bn: Scots Guards. I dont think there are any more, other than maybe a few in Malaya. How can I not be sure?, well its a long time ago, and I wouldnt be sure which order they came in, might if I thought hard enough about it. Not going to do that though. I did have a thought in another direction though. I have often wondered why when something is on offer for no payment some people seem to think it to be inferior to that which they may pay hundreds of pounds for. Let me set the record straight, this in my opinion is sheer lunacy. There you have it, take it or leave it whichever.
Wrath Of The Mind
Nothing to add to this really, suffice to say I couldnt for the life of me think of a Tune Name and the mind was playing tricks.
Pipe Sgt Wullie Strachans Farewell To The 1st Bn. Scots Guards
Wullie Starachan was Pipe Sgt of the 1st Bn when I joined them in 1956 and was in that Post until we departed for Malaya in 1964. I have no idea when he became Pipe Sgt. He didnt come with the Bn to Malaya so I assume he left the Regiment around 1964.
Piper David Salkeld 1st Bn. Scots Guards
Not a lot can be said at the moment. One incident does come to mind, will write it up later. Joined sometime prior to going to Malaya was with the Band during that time and on my leaving the Band was still a member of the 1st Bn Pipe Band.
Uploaded 14th March 2011
Strathspey Karen McColl
Karen is my Niece
Uploaded 16th March 2011
Slow March ' The Royal Gardens Stirlng '
The outlay of the Gardens are still there, where once the Royals from the Castle used to visit on a daily basis. In its day it must have been one of the most beutiful Gardens in Scotland.
I was on a visit there one day with my three Lurchers. Buiscit who was a bit of a daredevil got on top of the Cup and Saucer and started running pell mell, I was shouting as loud as I could, on seeing what was going to happen. He paid no attention to me and took off from the top, when there was no more ground underneath him. He must have flown for about twenty or more feet and then came down with an almighty bang. I thought he must have killed himself from the way he landed, when I reached him him he was lying there gasping. We just hung around until he recovered and got back on his feet. It was a day I remember so well and something that should never have happened. Trouble with Lurchers they move that fast they are gone and back again before you have a chance to open your gob.
Uploaded 26th March 2011
Pipe Major Robert Kilgour 2nd Bn Scots Guards
Uploaded 8th April 2011
Farewell To The Auld Toon Of Stirling
