Pictured at the Civic Reception are Provost Winifred Sloan, senior Army Officers and guests
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The British Army's Scotland wide Pipers' Trail filled Ayr town centre with the sound of bagpipes after South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan officially gave permission, for a procession of Army and local pipers, to march through the town.
The Pipers' Trail is a unique musical journey that has been taking place across Scotland this summer covering a total distance of approximately 470 miles. The Army in Scotland organised the event in conjunction with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. As part of their visit a special church service was held within the Auld Kirk in Ayr, to acknowledge the contribution that Army personnel make to local communities and communities around the globe.
In the four days leading up to the march piping and drumming workshops run by the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association where held in Ayr Town Hall. The workshops attended by people just starting to play the bagpipes and pipers who wanted to develop their piping or drumming skills.
After the march around Ayr participants made their way to a free event on the Low Green where a range of activities had been organised for everyone to join in and enjoy. There was a selection of army vehicles to see, a performance of a specially commissioned Pipers' Trail play, an army field kitchen, face painting for children, and as a spectacular finale the Gold Lions Parachute Display team brought the afternoon's festivities to a close by dropping onto the Low Green.
Provost Sloan hosted a Civic Reception within the County Buildings to mark the occasion and presented Colonel Angus Taverner Late RA (V) with a statuette of a piper as a memento of the Army's visit to Ayr. Provost Sloan said: "Ayr has strong military connections and I am very pleased that they selected Ayr to take part in the Pipers' Trail. The Army plays an active role in communities across Scotland and I would like to thank them for the tremendous effort that they put into this event.
"Many of us have family, friends or colleagues who have either served or are serving in the regular Army or the Territorial Army and I would like to thank them for their commitment and selfless loyalty they show to the Army and to their country.
"Employees of the Council showed their support for the Army when as part of 'Save Our Solders' Awareness Week in June, they took part in a 'dress down day' to raise funds. A total of £547.28 was raised and I presented the cheque to the organisation at the Civic Reception."
At the Civic Reception John L Duncan, QPM, Lord Lieutenant for Ayrshire and Arran presented a Lord Lieutenant's Certificate to Staff Sergeant Stewart McKenzie Finlay for his service to the Territorial Army Staff. Speaking about the presentation John Duncan said: "Staff Sergeant Findlay exemplifies all that is good in the modern Territorial Army and it has given me the greatest pleasure to recognise his service with a Lord Lieutenant's Certificate. It is a recognition richly deserved.
"In this its 100th year great demands are being made on the Territorial Army with 2 major conflicts in Irag and Afghanistan to be resourced and it has responded magnificently For his part Staff Sergeant Findlay has been deployed to Iraq and now stands ready for further deployment. To him and all who serve with him we owe a huge debt of gratitude, for it is for us that they do what they do."
Staff Sergeant Finlay joined the Territorial Army as a recruit at 251 Squadron in Irvine in 1995. From the outset he demonstrated the qualities required of a leader and as a result has progressed quickly through the ranks during his career.
Following his promotion to Sergeant in 2003 he was mobilised for service in the Gulf War serving with 84 Medical Supply Squadron, Royal Army Medical Corps. It is to his credit that he was employed out of trade as the surgical instrument and consumable equipment stores manager. A report written about his performance at the time said "The range and complexity of the material controlled should not be underestimated as none of the 3500 line items received had an easily identifiable part number. Working under harsh environmental conditions, with no medical re-supply knowledge prior to deployment his diligent, methodical approach was proven to be sound."
Returning to Irvine he was promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2005 and took over as Recruit Troop Commander. Under his leadership the troop went from strength to strength and continues to do so building upon the foundations that he laid. He has now moved on to the Task Troop within the Squadron and is the senior soldier within it. As the name suggests it is this part of the Squadron that could be deployed on operations at anytime that the Reserves may be needed.
Stewart is married to Linda, they have two children and live in Kilmarnock. Stewart is a Facilities Manager with East Ayrshire Council.
Guests at the Civic Reception were treated to a vignette of the specially commissioned Pipers' Trail show that was performed earlier on the Low Green. The show is an ensemble piece of musical theatre, a narrative illustrated by some of Scotland's finest pipe tunes. It tells the story of Jamie who leaves home to embark on a journey of self discovery in an attempt to emulate his Grandfather, who to him, had been one of the world's greatest pipers, a veteran and a hero in Jamie's eyes. Jamie meets Morag and they become friends and so decide to travel together on the journey Jamie experiences a variety of challenges through which he learns lessons for life all of which underline the core values of the Army: courage; discipline; respect; integrity; loyalty and selfless commitment. The two are joined by Robert, an ex serviceman who adopts the role of mentor, guide and older brother. He is able to ignite in Jamie the ability to question not only himself but also the world around him. There will be an opportunity to see the Pipers' Trail in August this year when it is featured in the Edinburgh Fringe.
The Pipers' Trail visit to Ayr and the Civic Reception further cemented relations between Ayr and the Army. Colonel Angus Taverner Late RA (V) said: "The Army in Scotland is delighted to bring The Pipers Trail to Ayr. Not only is this an important opportunity to celebrate the Territorial Army's centenary with the town, and to mark Ayr's remarkable contribution to volunteer service over the past 100 years, but it also gives us the opportunity to share directly in this very significant anniversary.
"We hope that the people of Ayr will enjoy all the facets of The Pipers' Trail and will be encouraged that the values and standards that have always been the hallmark of the Army in Scotland continue and will endure in the years to come."