On Arrival at the School the first Dorm, which would be your Home for the First Year
was called Clyde, C Company.This remained as the Rookie Company Dorm.
After a Year you would be Posted to your New Company.
There were three Companies, A. B. D. I dont know how the System
worked as to which Coy you were allocated, suffice to say I was very happy where I
ended up and that was A Coy.
The rivalry was at a Boiling Point between the three Companies all the time. Your Company was was the Elite and you strived very hard to make it and keep it the Best.
You were on a Learning Curve and it could be rather difficult at times.
There were umpteen things one had to learn, and, you were, in a very short time
expected to be very proficient at them. Cleaning Shoes, Darning Socks, Laying a Bed
out for Inspection, cleaning and sweeping your own Bed Space,to name but a few. Spit
and Polish? the Guards were nothing compared to this lot.
I tell a lie the Scots Guards were a hellavu lot easier because of all I learned at Q.V.S.
Life was hard and could be brutal at times, we were turfed out doors during Dinner
Break no matter what the weather. I remember on a few occasions suffering a cold and trying
to wrap myself around a hot radiator before being caught and shown the door.
I would also like to point out that both my Tutors in the Guards, were ex QVS Boys.
At the Guards Piping School Pirbright was Pipe Major Kenneth ( Curly ) Roe. BEM and
at the 1st Battalion Scots Guards was Pipe Major John S.( Gabby ) Roe. BEM. John Roe
was Pipe Major 1st Bn. from 1949 till Retirement in 1965. He was a first class Tutor
and a Master at Setting up a Band. Very Good with Reeds. In Malaya we depleted our supply
of Pipe Reeds he went into the Jungle found some suitable cane and proceeded to make
some Reeds for the Band. They turned out rather good the sound wasnt bad for a DIY Job.
It was a number of years after joining the Guards I found out both brothers were ex QV.
I remember thinking at the time coming from the same School had'nt done me any favour's,
although what I would have expected had I known is any ones guess. Pipe Major John Roe
didnt take any prisoners, so maybe just as well I was shall we say in the dark. I found
him to be Fair and Correct in his dealings with everyone in the Band, unless ofcourse
you were receiving the famous and dreaded Bunk Treatment. This was a one to one Tuition
Session and it could go on for weeks on end. It was mainly for those coming from the
Piping School that were a wee bit behind with Tunes required to Play in the Band.
I think the one fault I had with Curly at the Piping School, was not keeping abreast
of both the 1st and the 2nd Bn Bands repertoire. Mind you it may have been too difficult
to try and balance between one and the other taking into account two factors.
It was down to supply and demand which Bn you were destined for. Each Band had differing
repertoires. even the sets that were played for Dancing were vastly different which I
experienced once, and had a near disaster with. This was in America recording a Show for
American Television, good job it was a pre recorded show or I would
have been locked up. Its a long story this one, but one I prefer to leave in the Past.
Suffice to say we recorded again and it was an excellent broadcast.
When I joined the Band in London 1956 ( a few months before my 16th Birthday ) I was
under the Tutelage of Cpl Tony Wilson ( Pipe Major Mull of Kintyre ) and was swiftly
brought up to speed with the current repertoire. Tony was a hard Task Master and before
long I was Playing the regular Band Tunes. A Great Teacher an ExcellentPlayer and was
a Man of vast Patience,had to be with young chancers like me. I was a 1st Battalion
Highland Dancer prior to playing in the Band, having Danced and been taught by some
very noteable Highland Dancers one being a World Chapion ( Jean Reynolds ) at Q.V.
The reason I have given you this wee speel is a lead up to telling you that I have
Ten Tunes Named after the Ten Dormitories, and the reason for that is that the Dorm
Names are no Longer used as they now use a House System. They call it moving with
the Times. I dont want to see the Auld Names disappear hence the Pipe Tunes. I cant
right now place them as Companies but will slot them around later and pair them as
they should be. Each Tunes has the Title 'The Boys From .............. '
