EDINBURGH TATTOO WEEKEND

24th-26th August 1979               Tattoo Weekend

 

Authors:  Alistair B. Cram (Skipper) and Glip

 

Guides:  Unspecified in the troop log

 

Scouts: Unspecified in the troop log, but included Graeme Wright, John Kerr, Kenny Kerr, Robbie Mochrie, Graham Bolster, David Eadie Kevin Byng, Robert Wright, Murray Brabender, Willie Grant

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Leaders: Unspecified in the troop log but included ABC, Kenny, Glip, Moira Cram, and possibly Fiona Lindsay

 

Combined Report  from both logs

Friday 24th of August 1979                     

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Scouts and Guides joined forces and headed for Edinburgh for our annual stay at the Scripture Union Hostel. The weekend was organised by Kenny so that he could complete one of his leadership Advanced Course requirements. Poor Kenny was still getting ribbed rotten about his advanced course. Mortals kissed his feet.

We left in two minibuses, one with Guides and one with Scouts. On the Friday night, we went to the Tattoo (Programme in the Troop log). The television crews were rehearsing for Saturday night and that proved as interesting as the Tattoo itself. The latter was fairly unimpressive as a whole. On the other hand, Wille Grant (Dome) and Murray Brabender (Pucker) were enthralled by the motor cycle display team. The construction of the gym frame for the RN display team was also impressive. The Scouts got a good laugh at the Bavarian and Scottish dancers. Glip actually recognised some OTC (Officer Training Corps) members from Glasgow University in the latter group.

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Near the end, a group behind us who were rather the worse for drink got rather annoying. It was also annoying to see the rush of people departing early to try and beat the rush - even during the anthem. As a result, they not only missed the climax but spoilt if for those who stayed.

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After the show, we walked back to the Scripture Union HQ via a chip shop. Glip got reprimanded by some civilian for chasing one of the Scouts - possibly Kevin.

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We had our supper at the HQ and then tried to get to pit. Unfortunately, Kenny found his sleeping bag sabotaged several times by Scouters and Scouts alike. It wasn't until 2.00am on Saturday morning that we actually got to sleep.

 

 

Saturday 25th August

Breakfast was scheduled for 9am and consisted of cereal, sausage and tomatos, tea and coffee

After a tidy up, the morning was spent shopping. Kenny, Skipper and Glip wandered around, visiting a coffee shop and then the Scout Shop where Glip bought double Everest scarves. From there, they proceeded to the book shop, before returning to the Scripture Union HQ.

Lunch was scheduled for 1.00 pm and consisted of minestrone soup, mince, peas and smash, then instant whip and fruit.

 

In the afternoon after the tidy up, ice skating was popular amongst some of the group. The SL was stupid enough to let Kenny and some Guides take him to a football match (Hibs vs Dundee) and got caught in the middle of a running battle afterwards between rival football fans. Never again! Meanwhile, Glip took a large group of hill climbers (Graham Bolster and Robbie Mochrie) to climb Dundreich (see the Everest website). The biggest challenge was navigating through Edinburgh.

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Back at the Scripture Union HQ, the three groups met up to share experiences and had tea. In the evening, the usual BBQ at the beach at Silverknowes was held. There was a deprssing lack of wood, which meant quite a wide ranging search to find what we needed. The BBQ proved successful with hamburgers, sausages, onions and baked apples, and then we dumped the Scouts and Guides at ra fair. The leaders retreated to a nearby hotel to drink coke and orange.

 

We then picked up the fair enthusiasts and drove back to the Scripture Union for 8.30pm. An emergency toilet stop was required en route for Robert, who jumped over a wall in deseration, much to the delight of everybody else. Back at the SU HQ , sweets were made, monopoly was played and we experimented with pizza making. The game Booby Trap also proved popular. Other events that were on the programme included T-shirt painting, scrabble and an indoor loony thing (undefined).

 

Supper involved hot chocolate, biscuits and baking 

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Sunday 26th August

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On Sunday morning, breakfast was scheduled for 9.00am and consisted of cereal, scrambled egg, French toast and tea. We then tidied up and were away by 10.40

We attended Church service at St. Cuthbert's (Kenny's choice) - which was so high that the Scouts thought it was Roman Catholic rather than Church of England! The Apostle's Creed was recited and our Scouts watched admiringly as Kenny speeled it out from memory.

After some cold coffee at a ludicrous price in a posh hotel (Leaders only I assume), we returned for lunch of oxtail soup, salad, creamed rice and fruit and the final clear up began at 2.15.

Before heading home, we visited the Comonwealth Pool for a swim at 2.45, deparint at 4.30. To Kenny's horror, Skipper and Moira raced the minibuses home to Greenock - touching 70 mph at times.

 

PS. Skipper visited our former chaplain Rev. D.H. Stewart on the Sunday and found him fighting fit!!

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