After traveling the world with Scotland’s most famous military band, a West Lothian musician is returning to Livingston to pay tribute to local heroes.
Warrant Officer John Govan, who lives in Bathgate, will perform with the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland at their “Celebrating our Heroes” concert to support Poppyscotland.
John, who plays the clarinet, flute, and saxophone, has been an Army musician for 22 years, performing all over Europe, and in the Middle East, Hong Kong, and America. The band has recently played at Edinburgh’s Royal Military Tattoo, following the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Holyrood Place.
Now they will be coming to Howden Park Centre on Friday 30th September, as part of the band’s tour around Scotland. All proceeds will go to help Poppyscotland deliver its life-changing support for members of the Armed Forces community across Scotland.
John said: “This is the first time the Band has played in Livingston, and I’m really looking forward to playing close to home. We’re excited to be supporting a great cause, as well as paying tribute to local heroes, from the Armed Forces to key workers during a pandemic.
“We’ve got a fantastic programme this year, ranging from traditional Scottish tunes to modern classics, while the Band Scots Ceilidh group is sure to get feet tapping! We’ve been especially pleased to work with Scottish folk musician and composer Alan Brydon, who has written a new song, Land of Heroes, for the finale.
“These concerts are always very enjoyable events, and it’s great to get out and meet local audiences.”
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising, said: “We’re delighted to welcome back the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and are very grateful for their continuing support. This is a fantastic chance to hear one of Scotland’s best-known bands here in Livingston.
“These concerts are always a great night out, with an uplifting and eclectic programme showcasing the band’s versatility. All funds raised will support our life-changing work with the Armed Forces community, providing practical help and support whenever they need us.”
The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, based at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, is one of the 22 Regular Army bands, and is made up of musicians who are also serving soldiers.
Tickets cost £15 (£12 concessions) and are available via:
Poppyscotland has been recognised by the Ministry of Defence for its outstanding help with employment for members of the Armed Forces community.
The Edinburgh-based charity was awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, the highest badge of honour given by the MoD.
The charity is one of 16 businesses and organisations in Scotland to receive the Gold award, with the scheme now in its ninth year. Poppyscotland, and its subsidiary, Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, which employs a number of veterans with disabilities, both achieved the Silver award last year.
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme encourages employers to support the Armed Forces community and inspire others to do the same. It runs bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that demonstrate their support.
To win the gold award, they must provide 10 extra paid days leave for reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for veterans, reserves, Cadet Force adult volunteers, and spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.
They must also advocate the benefits by encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and engage with the Employer Recognition Scheme. The Covenant is a promise to treat current and former service personnel and their families fairly, in areas from healthcare to housing.
Poppyscotland is Scotland’s leading Armed Forces charity, providing a wide range of services, including advice, financial support, and help with physical and mental health issues.
Austin Hardie, Director of Poppyscotland, said: “As an employer working directly at the heart of the Armed Forces community, we felt it was important that we show leadership and highlight the many benefits this scheme brings to both employer and employee.
“Being awarded the Gold recognition is testimony to the values of Poppyscotland and our commitment to those who have served and are serving currently. By espousing these values publicly, we also hope that it will encourage others to be involved in our life-changing welfare work that we provide to those in need in the Armed Forces community in Scotland.”
Leo Docherty MP, Minister for Defence People, said: “Regardless of size, location or sector, employing members of the Armed Forces community is good for businesses.
“These awards recognise the outstanding support for our armed forces from employers across the UK and I would like to thank and congratulate each and every one.”
Scottish winners will be honoured at a ceremony at Stirling Castle on November 3rd.
They’ve played for Her Majesty the Queen as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations – and now fans can hear the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland on a national tour.
Scotland’s best-known military band has launched a series of concerts, “Celebrating our Heroes” to raise funds for Poppyscotland this autumn.
Renowned for their performances at Holyrood Palace and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the talented musicians will be touring venues in Livingston, Hamilton, Perthshire, Angus, and the Scottish Borders.
This year’s repertoire will include folk music inspired from across Scotland, featuring a collaboration with Hawick folk musician and songwriter, Alan Brydon.
The events follow similar successful tours in 2018 and 2019. All proceeds will go to help Poppyscotland deliver its life-changing support for members of the Armed Forces community across Scotland.
The first one will take place at Hamilton Town House on Friday 2nd September, followed by dates at Howden Park Centre, Livingston, Montrose Academy, and Bankfoot Church Centre, Perthshire. The final, festive concert will be on December 15th at Hawick Town Hall.
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising, said: “We’re delighted to welcome back the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland after a two-year break due to the pandemic, and are very grateful for their continuing support. This is a fantastic chance to hear the internationally acclaimed band at local venues around Scotland.
“The concerts promise to be unforgettable evenings, featuring folk music inspired from across Scotland, from the Borders to the Western Isles, and guaranteed to get your feet tapping! They are always very popular, so we’d encourage music lovers to buy their tickets early before they sell out.
“All funds raised will help us continue our vital work, supporting current and former servicemen and women and their families, which is now needed more than ever.”
The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, based at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, is one of the 22 Regular Army bands, and is made up of musicians who are also serving soldiers. As well as supporting the Army and performing at ceremonial occasions across Scotland, they have also played around the world, traveling to Hong Kong, New Zealand, Switzerland and Canada in recent years.
Concert dates are:
Hamilton Town House – Friday 2nd September 2022
Howden Park Centre, Livingston – Friday 30th September 2022
Montrose Academy – Friday 21st October 2022
Bankfoot Church Centre, Perthshire – Friday 4th November 2022
Hawick Town Hall – Thursday 15th December 2022
Tickets cost £15 (£12 concessions) and are available via:
Falklands veterans and their families gathered in Edinburgh yesterday (Saturday 18 June) to pay tribute on the 40th anniversary of the end of the conflict. They were joined by the Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge and Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Keith Brown MSP for the parade and remembrance service.
Hundreds lined the streets as the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines and the Scots Guards Association Pipes and Drums marched along George Street before the service in St Andrew Square. Many Falklands veterans were among those taking part, including former Scots Guards drummer, Graham Hopewell, from Ayrshire.
At 11am, the bands were joined by more than 120 pipers across Scotland and as far away as Peru, New Zealand and the Falklands, to play “The Crags of Tumbledown Mountain” in unison. This tune was composed by Scottish Pipe Major James Riddell in the midst of the decisive battle on 13th June 1982, which led to the Argentine surrender and the end of the war the following day.
The commemorations were organised by Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, in partnership with the Armed Forces and the Scottish Government.
The Rev Dr Karen Campbell, National Chaplain of the Royal British Legion Scotland, and The Rev Angus Smith, former Padre to the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards who served in the Falklands, jointly led the service.
They remembered the 255 British servicemen who fell in the Falklands, as well as 649 Argentinian military personnel, three civilians, and thousands more who were wounded.
The conflict began on April 2nd, 1982, when Argentina invaded the British territory in the South Atlantic, and ended on June 14th, as British troops approached the capital, Stanley. It was the first military action since the Second World War which involved all elements of the British Armed Forces.
Following the service, wreaths were laid by the Lord Provost, Mr Brown MSP, Rear Admiral Mark Beverstock, a Falklands veteran and President of Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, the Heads of all three Armed Services in Scotland, and the War Widows Association.
Participants then enjoyed musical entertainment from the two military bands, Legion Scotland Sweetheart Amy Hawthorn, Stuart McLean, Juniper 3 and Ellyn Oliver. The public were also able to enjoy exhibits from Legion Scotland, Poppyscotland, and many other organisations and associations.
Dr Claire Armstrong, Chief Executive of Legion Scotland, said: “It was heartening to see so many people come together today to pay tribute to all those who served in the Falklands. For veterans and their families, today was a very poignant day, as we remembered those who laid down their lives 40 years ago. Even now, many of those who served are still living with the physical and mental scars of the conflict.
“This was also an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary resilience of our Armed Forces community and the vital role they continue to play today. We’re delighted that people of all ages have engaged with our learning programme over recent months, taking the chance to find out more about the Falklands and other conflicts, and their impact on our recent history.
“It was particularly moving to hear the iconic pipe tune “The Crags of Tumbledown Mountain” being played at 11am, both here at St Andrews Square and by our global pipe band in all corners of the world.
“We would like to thank the City of Edinburgh Council and everyone else who has made today’s events possible, as well as the public for their support.”
Keith Brown MSP said: “I am delighted that we have been able to partner with Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland to deliver a commemoration which will provide the people of Scotland with an opportunity to recognise the sacrifices made 40 years ago in the Falklands War.”
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Sharing his memories of the long journey to the Falklands onboard the QE2, Rev Smith said: “We suddenly remembered what war entailed. The question that was at the back of our mind was “would we or would we not return”.
“But I had to go beyond that. I had about 500 lads who were in the same position. These were the ones who were fighting, so it was up to me to help these people as much as possible.”
Reflecting on the 40th anniversary commemorations today, Rev Smith continued: “It has been one of the most wonderful experiences I’ve had in years. The thought that has gone into this, it’s beautiful really.
“The first person I met today was the wife of a great friend of mine, who was amongst the first men killed in the war. We just looked at one another today, and we couldn’t speak.”
The daughter of a Scottish Pipe Major, whose famous tune pays tribute to those who fell in the Falklands, has spoken of the war’s lasting impact on her family.
On Saturday, (JUNE 18th), hundreds of pipers in Edinburgh and around the world will join in unison by playing “The Crags of Tumbledown Mountain” to mark the 40th anniversary of the ceasefire.
The tune was composed on the back of a ration pack by Pipe Major James Riddell while under fire during the decisive battle, in which eight fellow Scots Guards were killed. Shortly afterwards, he climbed to the top of the mountain to play it for the first time.
Musicians from across the UK, and as far away as Peru, New Zealand, and the Falklands, will play in unison at 11am on Saturday. This is part of a day of remembrance events, organised by Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government and Armed Forces.
Veterans will also join a parade through the centre of Edinburgh, attended by Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Keith Brown MSP, and heads of all three Armed Forces, before a service of remembrance followed by entertainment in St Andrew’s Square.
Forty years on, Pipe Major Riddell’s daughter Teri Newell said the tune still brings a tear to her eye, and brings back bittersweet memories of her father, who died in 1997.
She said that he had returned “a different man” after the Falklands, and there had been a lack of support for many veterans who had struggled with their experiences.
She said: “He seemed like a stranger, not my dad. He became more insular and never spoke about his experiences. I’m almost certain he had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it wasn’t recognised at the time.
“There was a lot of support for service families, but very little for the men. There was that attitude that you kept a stiff upper lip and just got on with it.”
Born in Stonehaven, Pipe Major Riddell joined the Scots Guards aged 17, following in his father’s footsteps. He married his high school sweetheart, Pauline, and served in Malaya, Borneo, and Northern Ireland.
Teri, their only child, was 14 when he was sent to the Falklands, and living at Chelsea Barracks with other military families.
She said: “I was used to him being away, but this time it felt different. It was really quite scary. He was going off to war and I didn’t know if I’d ever see him again. Every day I would come home from school hoping there was something from Dad. But you just had to get on with life.
“When we heard about the ceasefire it was the most fabulous news. But then the next day came the announcement of the fatalities. My mum remembers that, almost in a heartbeat, they went from elation to immense sadness. It was surreal – we wanted to celebrate but then we had friends and neighbours who had lost their husbands and fathers.”
Pipe Major Riddell was part of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards who attacked Argentinian forces on Tumbledown Mountain on June 13th, which guarded the approach to the Falklands capital, Stanley.
They engaged in fierce, hand-to-hand combat for almost nine hours in dark, freezing conditions, before finally taking the stronghold. This led to the Argentinian surrender the following day.
A few weeks later, the families travelled to RAF Brize Norton to be reunited with the returning soldiers.
She said: “It was wonderful seeing my dad in the flesh again,” she said. “But he hardly ever spoke about what he’d been through.
“Later on, he told me he’d scribbled the tune on the back of a ration pack. He told me it just came to him. Things were obviously going through his head at the time, then it all came together.”
Pipe Major Riddell served for 28 years, leaving in 1991 with an exemplary conduct assessment. His comrades remember him as well-respected and protective of the pipers under his command, although he could be a tough task master.
But he found himself struggling to adapt to civilian life, and the family became estranged when Teri was in her 20s. He died of a brain tumour in 1997.
She said: “When he left the military, he found it a very hard transition. He had been a soldier for all his adult life and was used to that structure and following orders. I think being on his own and having to find a job was a very scary prospect.
“I only spoke to him a handful of times after that, but he kept my number. Then one day, I got a phone call saying he had passed away. I didn’t even know he had been ill. That was the worst day of my life.”
She now lives in Slough with her husband Eric and is proud that her father’s memory lives on through his music.
“It’s amazing that so many pipers will be playing it on Saturday, it really warms my heart. Whenever I hear it, it brings a tear to my eye and reminds me of him. He was never interested in recognition, he didn’t want to be in the spotlight. But his tune means a lot to people around the world.”
Hundreds of current and former servicemen and their families are expected to take part in Saturday’s parade (JUNE 18th), starting at 10:15am from Charlotte Square. It will be led by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines and the Scots Guards Association Pipes and Drums, with the pipers’ tribute taking place at 11am.
There will be a service in St Andrew Square, jointly led by the National Chaplain of the Royal British Legion Scotland The Rev Karen Campbell and The Rev Angus Smith, former Padre to the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards who served in the Falklands.
This will be followed by performances by both military bands, Legion Scotland Sweetheart Amy Hawthorn, Stuart McLean, Juniper 3 and Ellyn Oliver.
A series of portraits of Falklands veterans has been released to tell their stories as Scotland marks the 40th anniversary of the end of the conflict today (14th June.
Award-winning Glasgow photographer Wattie Cheung worked with leading military charities Poppyscotland and Legion Scotland to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of our Armed Forces in the 1982 war.
The work has been released ahead of a national remembrance parade and service in the centre of Edinburgh on Saturday (JUNE 18th). Hundreds of current and former servicemen and women and their families are expected to take part. They will be joined by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, representatives of the Scottish Government, and heads of all three Armed Services in Scotland.
Veterans and a military band will march from Charlotte Square along George Street on Saturday morning, before a service of remembrance and wreath-laying in St Andrew Square, followed by musical entertainment.
Pipers around the world will also join in playing the Crags of Tumbledown Mountain in tribute to the fallen at 11am that morning. The tune was composed by Scottish soldier, Pipe Major James Riddell, during the final battle on the back of a ration packet. More than 110 have already signed up, from as far away as Canada, Peru, and the Falklands.
The conflict began on April 2nd, 1982, when Argentina invaded the British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean. Argentina surrendered on June 14th, as British forces approached the capital, Stanley. In total, 255 British servicemen, 649 Argentine military personnel, and three civilians died, while many more were wounded.
As part of the charities’ commemorations, Mr Cheung photographed seven veterans across Scotland using a Graflex Super D large format film camera made in the USA in the 1940s. Each one said that the 10-week conflict had impacted the rest of their lives, with many losing close friends and struggling to come to terms with their experiences.
Among them is David Cruickshanks, from Fife, who at the age of 17 was the youngest Scot to serve in the Falklands with the Royal Navy. He remembers the constant threat of air attacks, accidentally walking through a minefield, and losing six crewmates from his ship, HMS Fearless.
Former Scots Guards Donald McLeod, Willie Urban and Graham Hopewell were involved in the final battle to take Mount Tumbledown on June 13th, before the Argentinian surrender the following day.
Mr McLeod described nine hours of hand-to-hand fighting through the night, during which eight of his comrades were killed.
Mr Cheung said he had always been fascinated by the stories of veterans, and he was inspired to capture the portraits following similar projects to mark the 75th anniversary of D Day in 2019, and VE Day and VJ Day in 2020.
Wattie Cheungsaid: “Meeting veterans is always humbling and a good opportunity to learn about the harsh realities of war from those who have first-hand experience.
“They were all young men, no matter which war, sent into situations that they had never experienced. I don’t think they see themselves as heroes but just ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances doing a job they were trained to do.”
Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland are organising this weekend’s commemorative events in partnership with the Armed Forces and the Scottish Government. Falklands veterans and bereaved relatives will also be traveling to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire today (JUNE 14th) for a UK-wide service.
Dr Claire Armstrong, Chief Executive of Legion Scotland, said: “These stunning portraits pay tribute to the incredible efforts and resilience of those who served in the Falklands. They encourage us to reflect on the sacrifices they made 40 years ago and remember those who paid the ultimate price.
“Today will be a poignant day for thousands of veterans, servicemen, women, and their families, as we mark the anniversary of the ceasefire. Although the conflict lasted for just 74 days, it had a profound impact, with many veterans struggling with the physical and mental scars for decades afterwards.
“We’re pleased to be working with Poppyscotland, the Scottish Government, and Armed Forces to hold national commemorations and encourage the public as well as the Armed Forces community to get involved. We’ve also been impressed by the enthusiastic response to our call for pipers to take part, and join us in playing on streets, hillsides, and gardens across Scotland and the world.”
Saturday’s parade will start at 10am from Charlotte Square, led by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines and the Scots Guards Association Pipes and Drums.
The service, led by Revd Dr Karen Campbell, will be followed by performances by both military bands, Legion Scotland Sweetheart Amy Hawthorn, Stuart McLean, Juniper 3 and Ellyn Oliver.
Former Scots Guard Fraser Rowand (CORR) said he was “completely shocked” to win the silver medal in the cross-fit event at the Veteran Games in Israel.
Fraser, 41, has returned to Edinburgh after the “inspiring” event last week which brought together wounded, injured and sick veterans from across the UK and Israel.
The former Lance Corporal from Granton took up exercise to help recover from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. He struggled after leaving the Armed Forces in 2013 but started to turn his life around with help from Poppyscotland. He now works in Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh.
Fraser joined a team of 60 from across the UK and competed in the swimming and cross-fit events. He was also reunited with his former platoon commander, Leo Docherty, Minister for Defence People and Veterans, who supported the Games.
Fraser said that the competition had motivated him to continue training and pursue his dream of qualifying as a personal trainer.
He said: “I was completely shocked to win the silver medal. I just went in and hoped for the best. I managed to complete all the tasks and thought it went well.
“The whole experience was unreal. Everyone was so welcoming, and we were treated like VIPs every day. There was a wonderful atmosphere, especially with support from all the families.
“It was truly inspiring to meet other veterans and humbling to learn about their experiences. Everyone had different abilities – there were people in wheelchairs, those who were blind or had other disabilities. But there was a real sense of pride in what they were doing, and they all refused to give up.
“I felt that the swimming event on Tuesday went badly and that knocked my confidence a little. But then the next day I had a fresh start in the cross-fit. It really shows what you can achieve when you put your mind to it.
“Although it was a competition, there was a real sense of camaraderie, and we were in it together. We also met professors from both countries who were there to discuss the physical and mental health aspects. There was no divide between us, and we’d all sit down together to have dinner each night. I’ve made some great friends and we’ll stay in touch.
“It’s hard to explain the powerful impact that this event had. I think it’s going to take me a few weeks to come back down from it. But it has really motivated me to move forward and continue to work at becoming a personal trainer.
Fraser, a father-of-five, travelled to Israel with his wife Susan, as well as other competitors and their families. The families also enjoyed a range of cultural excursions around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in between events.
He also laid a wreath at the Commonwealth War Graves in Jerusalem.
Charlie Pelling, manager of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory,said: “Congratulations to Fraser on this fantastic achievement. His commitment and motivation are truly inspiring, and this is thoroughly well deserved.
“The Veterans Games are a wonderful event that recognises the power of sport and comradeship in supporting veterans’ mental and physical health. I hope that Fraser’s story will inspire other veterans who are facing similar challenges.”
The Veteran Games was organised by Beit Halochem UK, a national charity devoted to raising awareness and funds for Israel’s wounded veterans and victims of terror. The event recognises the fundamental role played by sport and family in supporting veterans’ recovery after physical and psychological challenges.
Participants competed in a wide range of sports, while also learning how their respective countries provide care for former servicemen and women who are wounded, sick and injured. The conference also saw internationally renowned academics and mental health experts from both countries meet to discuss veterans’ health, recovery, and welfare issues.
The Games are entirely funded by philanthropic donations, with Poppyscotland providing support with travel expenses for five Scottish competitors.
Scottish pupils have stunned judges in a nationwide competition with their moving depictions of life in the First World War trenches.
Esha Ahmed, 15, from Fife, and Ciara, 11, from Midlothian, and have been announced as winners of Poppyscotland’s Letters to my Teacher competition. Young people were challenged to imagine themselves serving on the front line during the war and writing home to their former teachers.
Esha, an S3 pupil at Levenmouth Academy, won the secondary school category with her “honest and imaginative” letter. Ciara, who is in P7 at Rosewell Primary, took the primary school award for her “genuinely touching” entry.
Esha reflected on the fragility of life as she described marching through wrecked French villages and towns, with the air thick with smoke and bodies lying on the ground. Ciara wrote of trying to keep up morale in rat-infested trenches, amid the constant sound of gunshots and cries of severely wounded soldiers.
The competition was inspired by letters written by Scottish soldier Douglas Constable to John Hamilton, his former headteacher at St Mary’s Melrose School. Douglas left a promising publishing career to serve with the Grenadier Guards in Belgium and France. He was killed during the Battle of the Somme in 1916, aged 26.
This year’s contest received a record-breaking entry, with almost 500 letters from schools across Scotland. Eight judges from Poppyscotland, Legion Scotland, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission shortlisted 12 entries to go through to the second round, with the public choosing the final winners.
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning and one of the judges, said: “Our warmest congratulations to Ciara and Esha on their wins. This year saw an exceptionally high standard of entries, and choosing a shortlist was extremely difficult.
“Esha’s and Ciara’s beautifully written accounts stood out as full of imagination, honesty, and humanity. They managed to put themselves in the boots of First World War soldiers, painting a full picture of trench life and its brutalities.
“We’re very pleased that this competition captured the imaginations of primary and secondary school pupils across Scotland. Inspired by the letters of Douglas Constable, it was a chance for children to learn about the daily experiences of Scottish men and women who lived through the First World War.
“Poppyscotland’s learning programme aims to bring history to life, encouraging pupils to reflect on remembrance and the relevance of these events to the present day.”
Ronnie Ross, headteacher at Levenmouth Academy, said: “I was genuinely moved when I read Esha’s work. She has shown genuine compassion and empathy with those who fought on the frontline and protected the free world at the beginning of the twentieth century and for this she must be truly congratulated.”
Hope Wilson, Ciara’s teacher at Rosewell Primary, said: “We are extremely proud of Ciara. The Letters to my Teacher competition inspired many of our older pupils and it has been great to be a part of it.”
The winners will each receive £500 in Amazon vouchers for their school, a visit from Poppyscotland’s mobile museum, Bud, and a special class tour of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, when it reopens this autumn.
Ciara said: “I was really happy to find out that I had won. I had asked all my family and friends to vote for me so I am glad that they supported me!”
A former Scots Guard from Edinburgh, who now works in Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, is traveling to Israel today (SATURDAY 28th MAY) to compete in the Veteran Games.
Fraser Rowand, 41, from Granton, said that exercise was a vital part of his recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He will join around 65 veterans from across the UK to take part in the international event in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem next week (Sunday 29th May – Friday 3rd June).
First held in 2019, the Veteran Games bring together wounded, injured and sick Armed Forces veterans with their Israeli counterparts who are battling similar challenges.
Fraser, a former Lance Corporal and father-of-five, has been selected to take part in the cross-fit and swimming events. He left the Army in 2013 after more than a decade’s service but struggled to adapt to civilian life after losing close friends in Afghanistan.
He managed to turn his life around with the help of Poppyscotland and joined the team at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory four years ago. He also started exercising in his free time and is working to qualify as a personal trainer.
Fraser said: “I didn’t realise I had PTSD until several years afterward, but I think it had always been there. I lost three close friends in Afghanistan. It’s hard to describe what it was like out there, but you just had to get on with doing the job.
“When I left, I found it hard to settle down to a civilian job. In the Army you’re part of a big team, and you lose that when you leave. It was only through sitting down with different organisations that I was able to start working through it.
“I was very fortunate to hear about the job at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory. It’s all set up for veterans and you’ve got that camaraderie here. I don’t know what I would have done without it.
“I’m really excited about this opportunity. I’ve never done an international competition, but I’m looking forward to competing with other veterans and meeting like-minded people.”
Fraser’s wife, Susan, will be traveling with him along with other competitors’ families. They will also have a chance to take part in social and cultural activities over the week.
The Veteran Games are organised by Beit Halochem UK, a national charity devoted to raising awareness and funds for Israel’s wounded veterans and victims of terror. The event recognises the fundamental role played by sport and family in supporting veterans’ recovery after physical and psychological challenges.
Participants compete in a wide range of sports, while also learning how their respective countries provide care for former servicemen and women who are wounded, sick and injured.
Charlie Pelling, manager of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory,said: “We’re delighted that Fraser has been selected to compete and wish him the best of luck.
“The Veteran Games is a wonderful initiative that recognises the important role of sport and comradeship in supporting veterans’ physical and mental health. This is an opportunity to highlight the resilience of our Armed Forces community and raise awareness of issues facing them and their families.”
The first event of its kind, the Veteran Games and Conference is funded entirely by philanthropic donations, with Poppyscotland and Legion Scotland providing support with travel expenses for five Scottish competitors.
Events will be held at Beit Halochem’s pioneering state-of-the-art facilities, which offers rehabilitation, sports and recreation centres and lifelong care for disabled veterans and their families in Israel.
The conference will see internationally renowned academics and mental health experts from both countries meet to discuss veterans’ health, recovery, and welfare issues.
Launching the event, Leo Docherty MP, Minister for Defence People and Veterans, said: “Sport is an integral part of the rehabilitation and recovery journey for wounded veterans.
“The 2022 Veteran Games highlights how sport can provide amazing opportunities for veterans across the globe to connect, over shared experiences.
“I wish good luck to all the athletes in this year’s games and thank charities across the UK for their continued dedication and support for our disabled veterans.”
Former Jewish-German child refugee Henry Wuga MBE, who came to Glasgow with the Kindertransport, returned to Central Station on Friday to launch a new learning programme with high school pupils.
Mr Wuga, 98, joined Poppyscotland and Gathering the Voices to help launch new lessons for Scottish schools, based on his story and that of other young refugees during the Second World War.
Pupils will also be encouraged to reflect these incredible stories and on the issues facing more recent child refugees, including millions of Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn country today.
Aged just 15, Mr Wuga escaped the horrors of Nazi Germany in 1939, leaving his parents behind in Nuremberg. He went on to make Scotland his home, marrying Ingrid, who also escaped via the Kindertransport, and managing his own catering business.
Mr Wuga met 10 S2 pupils from Shawlands Academy under the clock at Central Station, where he first arrived in Scotland. That was followed by a discussion between Henry and the students about his experiences, the Holocaust, and modern child refugees to Scotland.
The school has piloted Poppyscotland’s 10 lesson activity pack, written by Alison McFarlane, a History and Modern Studies teacher from Oban High School. The engaging and factual content focuses on the video testimonies of three Kindertransport escapees and Holocaust survivors, Mr Wuga, Rosa Sacharin and Karola Regent.
The new suite of resources will further enhance Poppyscotland’s vast Learning programme and are designed to help pupils understand the plight of Jewish people under the Nazi regime and the experiences of young refugees then and now.
Mr Wuga chatted to the pupils about their thoughts on the lessons and answered some thought-provoking questions.
The only son of successful caterers, Mr Wuga enjoyed a happy childhood before the Nazis took power. Then, he witnessed growing anti-Semitism, from bullying at school to the horrors of Kristallnacht in 1938, when Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues were attacked.
As tensions increased, his mother secured him a place on the Kindertransport, an international humanitarian programme that brought around 10,000 children to Britain in the months leading up to the outbreak of war. After arriving in Glasgow, he went on to attend school and work on a farm in Perthshire before being wrongly accused of espionage after writing letters to his parents in Germany
His name was cleared, and after the war ended, he returned to Glasgow, where he took a job as a chef. Sadly, his father died of a heart attack during an air raid in 1941, but he was able to bring his mother, who had survived the war thanks to the help of a Catholic neighbour, to Scotland. His wife, Ingrid, also lost many close relatives and friends during the Holocaust.
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Mr Wuga said: “It was very interesting meeting the pupils and answering their questions. I think it’s so important to share my story with a new generation while I can.
“When I first arrived here 83 years ago it was a shock – I didn’t speak the language well, the food and customs were new. But Glasgow was very welcoming and I made it my home.”
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Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Mr Wuga for supporting us and sharing his harrowing story with a new generation of Scottish children.
“His first-hand testimony is an important addition to our learning programme and will encourage young young people to reflect on issues that are all too relevant today.
“Sadly, millions of children throughout the world continue to be uprooted from their homes, escaping war, persecution, and poverty. We hope this will promote a wider understanding of refugees’ experiences, then and now, the challenges they face when arriving in Scotland.”
The Gathering the Voices Association is a project to record audio and video testimonies from Holocaust refugees who have a connection to Scotland, and educate current and future generations about their resilience.
It is made up of three ‘second generation’ refugees and their partners, who have collected more than 50 interviews which are freely at www.gatheringthevoices.com.
Dr Angela Shapiro, from the Gathering the Voices Association said: “We hope that by focusing on the stories of Mr Wuga and other young refugees, this will help bring the lessons to life.
“Young people can learn about the Holocaust and the resilience of the refugees who escaped from Nazi-occupied Europe, and the lessons we can all learn from those who lived through it.”
