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In and around the Kingdom of Fife, with the Fifer...
Author: FIFERTitle: In and around the Kingdom of Fife, with the Fifer
Date: 2005-03-14 15:24:38Uploaded by: webmaster
On September the 7th September 2004 my wife and I were invited along to the dedication and opening of the Scottish Police Memorial at the Scottish Police College in Tulliallen, I was asked along to release some of my white birds at the opening of the Memorial which was in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, since 1770, 191 Scottish police officers have lost their lives in their line of duty, so this Memorial now in the vast and most beautiful grounds of the Scottish police college, the heart of Scottish police training since 1945, will be dedicated to the memory of those police.


Liberation of pigeons at the Event.


This day saw the dedication and opening of the memorial after a lot of research and fundraising by members of the Scottish Police Memorial Trust. A memorial book will be in the library of Tulliallan Castle, with an entry dedicated to each of the officers named on the memorial, Family and friends will be able to visit the memorial daily.

Around midday we, along with the vast amount of guests, made our way into the castle where a splendid buffet lunch was awaiting, and everyone on duty, mostly trainee police, were all very helpful and carried out their tasks first class. After lunch everyone made their way out to the lovely layout where the memorial was. I had to go down there earlier to put the birds in place, and you talk about security, even although I had a special pass card around my neck I was stopped every few yards, so security was tight.


The Scottish Police College in Tulliallen.


The layout at the memorial was out of this world, the awning covered stand for the Princess Royal and the top brass along with one for the band of the Royal Marines which was already seated and playing for the crowd, this brought back some memories for me having served for eight years in the Royal Marines, anyway the band played some good music for the assembled audience while they awaited the arrival of the Princess who was running about 30 minutes late.

When she arrived and settled down, David Garbutt, director of the Scottish Police College, welcomed the assembled guests, then a dedication of the Scottish Police Memorial by the Reverend George Baxendale, then it was on to the wreath laying and the roll call, with the Princess Royal slowly walking down to the memorial to lay the first wreath. I was standing just a few yards at the side of the memorial with the birds so had a first class view of her laying the wreath, I only wish I had taken my camera with me as I had left it with my wife to take the photos which I must say was done very well considering they were from quite a distance from where I was releasing the birds, during this time there was a Pipers Lament being played by Pipe Sergeant Gavin Walker of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, the roll call was carried out by the surviving families after which David Garbutt gave the call for all to turn and face the Memorial, this was my cue to release the birds, so the fronts were dropped and my fingers crossed hoping for the best, and it was, the birds flew straight across in front of the memorial and it was a glorious sunshine day so a great sight the pure white birds in the sunshine.

The Princess Royal then gave a short speech, followed by the National Anthem, then she was presented with a posy by Amy and Hope Ferry, two young girls who lost their Father in his line of duty, the Princess was then introduced to Captain Smallwood Director of music Royal Marines, and Pipe Sergeant Gavin Walker of Strathclyde Police Pipe band.


The Princess Royal.


The Princess then had a walk about, being introduced to guests and members of the surviving families, before her departure. This was a great day and my wife and myself would like to thank Dennis Sanders from Birmingham who was approached for this event first but being too far away gave them my name to see if I could help out, I was very pleased when I arrived home and put on the TV and on the Scottish News saw the Princess Royal laying the wreath and me liberating the birds, later that evening on BBC news it was my wife on the TV taking photos of me liberating the birds, so a good day all round.

FIFER



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