August - Alyth Voice

OUR LADS NEED SUPPORT
THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE recently announced that the Black
Watch will serve in Iraq again, soldiers being deployed this November.
This is the third time that the battalion has been asked to serve in
Iraq in the last three years. I have no doubt that they will carry out
their duty with the highest honour, skill and dedication.
Alyth is a traditional recruiting ground of the Black Watch and has
always had strong connections with the regiment, going back generations.
Of course, Alfred Anderson was a soldier of the Black Watch
and fought in some of the regiment’s most famous battles. Alyth has
proud links with the Black Watch and is intertwined with the regiment.
Is it right that the Black Watch should be going to Iraq for the third
time in three years? Well, soldiers sign up for the army knowing the
risks, and can hardly complain if they are asked to do the job for
which they are trained.
But there is no doubt that the commitment being asked of some of
today’s soldiers is much greater than has been the case in the recent
past. I believe that this underlines that our soldiers are being asked to
do so much and that the British Army is being overstretched. It is clear
that we do not have enough troops and regiments such as the Black
Watch are being called upon to shoulder the burden. Once again, I
have to question the wisdom of merging all six of Scotland’s regiments
into one ‘Scottish Regiment’. We are seeing the British Army
requiring more and more infantry on the ground, and I believe that we
must reverse the regimental mergers and expand our troop numbers.
We already have difficulties with recruitment and overstretch will
only make matters worse.
I am sure the Black Watch will serve Scotland and the British Army
with great distinction and prove yet again that Scots soldiers are
among the best in the world. But our lads need support from us at
home, now more than ever. Murdo Fraser MSP
REVEREND GARDNER’S INDUCTION
AROUND 150 Alyth people travelled to Edinburgh’s Royal Mile on
Thursday 22 nd June for the Revd Neil Gardner’s induction as minister
of the historic Kirk of the Canongate. The church was full to overflowing
and the congregation enjoyed a mixture of induction formalities
and ceremonial procedures in the accompaniment of Pipe Major
Duthie of The Black Watch. The guest speaker at the Induction Social
was the Revd Dr Marjory MacLean, Depute Clerk to the General Assembly.
Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin KCB CBE, Colonel of
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) was present amongst
the many friends and family of Mr. Gardner. The Presbytery of Edinburgh
provided generous hospitality to the congregation in the nearby
Harry Younger Hall afterwards. The Canongate Kirk is the Kirk of
Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Parliament.
MEG’S MINI MARKET ON THE MOVE
AFTER 10 YEARS at number 3, Meg’s Mini-Market was on the
move in April, but only 19 doors up to 22 Commercial Street. Opening
the new shop doors on April 29 th , the extended floor space has
allowed for a greater range of wares. Amongst the extensive household
goods, work-wear, toys, tools and pictures, Meg (known as Margaret
Duncan on Sundays!) also inherited the greetings cards, flowers
and vases from their sister shop, Alyth Pet Supplies in Airlie Street.
Never one to sit on her laurels, seasonal bedding and houseplants were
added shortly after and more recently bed linen as well as a wide
range of fishing tackle! It’s good to see Commercial Street becoming a
vibrant shopping street once more.
8
SCOUT REPORT by Ron Kirkpatrick
DESPITE HAVING never attended a camping competition, Bruce
Arnott took a Patrol to Craggan for the annual camping competition.
His Patrol consisted of Ross Mitchell, Patrick West, Michael Milne,
Callum Millar and his wee brother Fraser Arnott. Despite being assaulted
by midgies and rain they came in second for the Novice Challenge
which was a creditable performance from the Scouts. They say
that you are what you eat and judging by the results of the Cub Sausage
Sizzle there might be a need to expand the Health Centre. Well,
carbon is meant to be good for the digestion and a few wee extras on a
sausage never hurt anyone! The Cubs certainly had a ball. Not to be
outdone by their elders, the Beavers had a barbeque outside the Scout
Hut complete with Bouncy Castle which just fitted inside having removed
a few light fittings! They say you can always judge the success
of an event by the noise level – I just hope we don’t get any complaints
about noise pollution! Our Book Fest is still in full swing and
Back: Fiona & Barry Tasker, Ron Kirkpatrick, Trish Wheatley Front: Calum Thom
An AFTERNOON at the QUEEN’S GARDEN
PARTY at the PALACE of HOLYROOD HOUSE
EARLIER IN the year, the Alyth Community Council put my name forward
along with that of my daughter Jackie for an invitation to the Garden Party at
Holyrood on 5 th the Explorers and Scouts have put in a great effort to collect, sort and
sell the books. We have had visitors from Arbroath and Dundee and if
you hurry along you will see why they came out. The tables are still
well stocked and there’s something for everyone. In the first two days
we sold approx 300 books bringing in over £300. An excellent response
and we hope this will continue over the next few weeks. Our
last day is 13 August, so you still have plenty of time to get a bargain.
July. The invitations arrived in May and we began thinking
about our outfits (including a hat) for the occasion. We were fortunate in that
Jackie’s parents-in-law live just outside Edinburgh, so we set off from there,
sure the weather was set fair and with the large sticker with “GP” for Garden
Party on the windscreen. When we reached the Commonwealth Pool we were
suddenly in a queue where every car had the same stickers and we slowly
drove into Holyrood Park. Before long we came on the members of the Royal
Company of Archers parking their cars and then in a few minutes were parked
in the main car park. We walked back past the hundreds of cars and joined the
long queue at the East gate into the Garden clutching our Entrance Card, Passport
and another form of identification.
Tea was served in the huge marquees from 3.30pm so we sampled the small
sandwiches, tiny savouries and dainty little cakes. The iced coffee was very
welcome on such a warm day. We then listened to the Pipe Band and watched
the Royal Company of Archers parading. At 4pm the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh
came down the steps from the Palace and moved through the lanes of
guests formed by the Royal Company of Archers. The Duke of Edinburgh
came down the lane Jackie and I were in. He noticed three Scout leaders I was
standing beside and he came over and spoke with them. It was quite exciting to
be so near a member of the Royal Family. As we walked about among all these
thousands of people we met several people we knew including the Revd Neil
Gardner and also three ladies from Meigle. Then the threatened thunderstorm
arrived with heavy rain and one and all had to dash for shelter. Everyone was
squashed into the marquees. However the rain soon passed and the tables and
chairs quickly dried. While Holyrood Park was closed to other cars on that day
there were still lots of pedestrians, some of whom had vantage points just outside
the gates to the Garden, to watch us going in all dressed up for the occasion.
Lots of others were dotted about the hillside opposite to get a bird’s eye
view of the Garden.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh departed after they had taken tea in
the Royal Tea Tent and at 6pm, one of the bands played the National Anthem
which was the signal that the Party was over. We made our way back through
the car park to our car with memories of a very special afternoon.
Dorothy Lothian, Alyth Citizen of the Year