Glasgow & West Scotland Wing Banner Laid Up
On Sunday the 5th of February 2012, the old Glasgow & West
Scotland Wing banner was officially laid up and the new West
Scotland Wing banner was presented at a service at Abbotsgrange
Church, Grangemouth.
A total of 244 personnel from the Wing attended including
53 staff, 189 cadets and 2
chaplains.
The cadets and staff formed up and marched into the
church in single file where the Lord Lieutenant for
Falkirk and Stirling,
Mrs Marjory McLaughlan, Wing Commander Jim Haley (Officer
Commanding West Scotland Wing) and Mrs Angela Haley
waited inside with the rest of the congregation.
The church service was conducted by Revd Aftab Giohar MA
MDiv PgDip, assisted by the Wing Chaplin Revd C G F Brockie BSc
(Eng) BD and the Corps Chaplin Revd Alan Barrett BA. During the
service, the old banner was marched to the front by the banner
party from 2414 (East Kilbride) Squadron who are currently Scotland
& Northern Ireland Regional Champions. The banner was then
recieved into the church's safe keeping, "to hang for all time as a
reminder to those who pass by of a cadet's duty to God, to our
Sovereign and to the country".
After the service was complete, the new wing banner, still
encased, was then marched to the front. Flight Lieutenant Stuart
Leslie (137, Ayr & Prestwick) and Flight Lieutenant Marise
Hawthorne (396, Paisley) then marched forward to uncase the banner,
and followed tradition by placing the silk over a set of drums.
Wing Commander Haley than asked the Chaplains "to bid God's
blessing on this new banner". Once complete, the banner was then
marched off.
Following a wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial
opposite the church, the parade marched past the saluting dias
under the command of Sqn Ldr Brian McCotter.
The salute was taken by the Lord Lieutenant and returned
by Wing Commander Haley.
Cadets, staff and guests then travelled to the TA centre
for lunch before departing.