Hi Gents,
We sent out an email with a Newsletter attached at the end of September, indicating we were going to try and have a Reunion on 29th October 2021.
Unfortunately due to the ongoing Covid-19 risk and the ages of a lot of our membership, ‘The Committee’ took the decision to cancel this meeting and instead run a Virtual Online get together.
Details of Online get together will appear in due course.
Following on from my latest post, Robert’s funeral will be held at
Clydebank Crematorium Dalnottar
Wednesday 15th September 2021 at 10.30am
Robert has a small family and it would be great to see as many Ex Members as possible attending (along with their 214 tie).
Clydebank Crematorium Dalnottar, Mountblow Road, Clydebank, G81 4SL
Tom Connelly informs me of the passing of his great 214 friend Robert Limond yesterday, 10th August 2021.
Robert would be 82 or 83 and was a great swimmer in his days with the company. He also played the side drum in the band along with George Seymour.
He served his apprenticeship building gymnastic equipment as a Joiner, though Tom assures me he never built the 214BB Parallel Bars.
We send our 214 condolences to his wife Christine at this sad time.
(I will advise regarding funeral arrangements once known.)
I am sorry to advise that Ronnie Elmslie (71) passed away on the 17th March 2021, at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Ronnie was the youngest of the Elmslie brothers, Jim the eldest advises he had been receiving treatment at the hospital lately. Dougie the middle brother passed away in 2015.
I have been advised that the three Elmslie brothers all played for ‘The Muirheads’ at various times, though not all at the same time.
We would all like to pass on our condolences to Ronnie’s wife Katherine and son Stuart and the rest of the family at this sad time.
What can I say about last Friday evening’s gathering, other than what a great success it was.
I am only repeating what everyone has said to me.
It was great seeing over 30 Ex-Members online at one point. Tuning in to see how everyone was surviving through these hard times.
The ironic thing was, it was more the younger membership that was lacking in their attendance than the elder. So technology transcends all ages, better to have tried and failed than not try at all.
The membership was tuning in from all across the Globe and the UK.
With some new video footage and ‘Memories’ being the main theme of the evening, a lot of brains were trawled to great effect. The hilarity of some of these recollections was priceless.
Covid-19 and Government guidelines has made the last year very hard for a lot of people.
It was mentioned that this had been one of the best nights in for some, in quite some time.
I personally loved seeing the reactions on everyone’s faces while they watched footage of the 214 pipe bands of the 60’s and 70’s, Lifeboys at Croy Bay, Centenary footage at Ibrox and Inspections at St Tams, featuring PT, Vaulting, Pyramids, Indian Clubs and Presentation of prizes to name a few. All accompanied by relevant MacIver or 214 related music.
Please remember I also announced an appeal for all bandsmen to complete a questionnaire. This is regarding their pipe band career after they left the 214.
If anyone is struggling to access the questionnaire, please contact me and full instructions will be forwarded to you.
The history needs recorded and the only way we can do this is with your help.
I have a funny feeling there may possibly be another online gathering, prior to our delayed annual reunion in October.
It’s up to you.
This Friday night we are having our online gathering.
Thank you to those who have replied.
What a great chance of catching up with others from around the World.
Are you attending?
See previous News item for details.
All Ex Members should now have received an email from the Secretary inviting them to our Online Gathering with all the details.
If you have not received your invite please contact the Secretary.
We would like to wish you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year.
We hope you are all keeping well and hopefully we can all meet up in person, later in the year.
The Committee are currently investigating opportunities, that would allow Ex Members to have a safe catch up in March.
Keep watching this space.
Sure & Stedfast
I am sorry to announce that Robin Tedford passed away on Boxing Day, after a short illness at the age of 87.
Robin who lived in Prestwick was a well known 214 face over the years.
Robin was in the band during the WW2 years and was given the charge of looking after Donnie MacIver’s pipes while he was away during National Service.
After leaving the 214 Robin served in the Merchant Navy as an engineer for some years. He then became a draughtsman and project engineer during his later employment.
We all send our condolences to his wife of 59 years Margaret and all the rest of the family at this sad and difficult time.
Two new Photo Galleries have been added to the site find them under the Photos Tab.
or click these links
More detail is required to be added to some of the photos, if you have sent me details of these I thank you I just haven’t got round to marking them up yet.
I must thank Willie Ellis who spent many hours with me, going through these a while back.
If you know the order of the people in the photos email me the names in order and I’ll update when I can, please note the photo number that is in (Brackets).
I have many more photos to sort and put up in Galleries which takes time as you can imagine, there is no point putting up photos with no detail. Also as you can see a lot of the photos are not picture perfect and clear. Donnie MacIver who took most of these had loads of blurry pics so I need to try and edit them to clean them up.
The next priority project is the Christmas Cards, so if you moved home please make sure we have your up to date address.
Keep safe all.