In the unfortunate absence of the Regimental Padre through illness, Grace was spoken by the Chairman. The meal which followed was excellent. The haggis was piped in ceremonially and the traditional dram taken by the PM and the two chefs, the latter showing less than the usual apprehension at competing with the former in speed of despatch.

The Chairman took the opportunity to read the loyal message sent to our Honorary Colonel and Her Majesty's gracious reply which was heartily received. After dinner came the presentation of the Messines Trophy which is now an annual event. Colonel Niekirk introduced Mr lan McCulloch, saying that of all the distinguished Knights of the Round Table who had previously undertaken this role, he was by no means the least and was no stranger to HQ.

Mr McCulloch had had the temerity to join the HAC, which needed explanation tonight. In fact, he had volunteered for The Scottish but was told it was full up (Laughter) so he went to Armoury House.

Major H. Treseder read the citation for the Trophy and then Mr McCulloch amusingly prefaced his duty by pulling the Chairman's leg about having qualified as a lawyer before Colonel Niekirk and, as the then War Office tended to "hang on" to such types, Colonel Alan had been able to get in "unqualified ". Mr McCulloch said he had also tried to join the Inns of Court but was rejected so he was left with the HAC. He always enjoyed the triangular shooting competition.

He concluded by saying that the winner of the Trophy, L/Cpl Jimmy Thoirs, was a credit to the Regiment who were delighted to keep "such chaps as you". There was loud applause for the recipient, especially from his Serving Comrades.

The interval now followed and the company were resummoned by the Pipes, then the Chairman called upon the Chairman of the Hallowe'en Organising Committee to read messages. Colonel Niekirk took the opportunity to thank the Chairman and the Committee for a splendid job in arranging the evening and this comment was endorsed enthusiastically by those present.

Hector Robertson then announced the messages which had come from the Glasgow Branch; Hugh Price; Douglas McArthur; Andrew Brand of Christchurch, New Zealand; Melbourne London Scots; Bill Somerset in the Seychelles; Mark Ormiston; and Commandant Schellekens and the town of Dainville.

It was now the turn of the Pipes and Drums to play their part, and right tunefully and professionally they did this. The set was Dornoch Links, My Love She's But A Lassie Yet, Hie'lan Whisky, Kneavie Knick Knack, Fair Young Mary, The Irish Washer Woman, The Hills of Glenorchy, The Rock and Pickle Tow, The Cockney Jocks. The applause which followed was most enthusiastic and made obvious that the playing was greatly appreciated.

Major-General John Swinton now gave the Toast of the Regiment having been introduced by the Chairman as a person who was modest enough to want to know if he had done enough for the TA, the answer to which was that he had never ceased to support the TA in London to the fullest possible extent.

The General said that he had been to one Hallowe'en Dinner before but never thought that he would have the honour to propose the Toast to the Regiment. General Swinton had one reason to be exceedingly grateful to The London Scottish as for the last two years Colonel Alan Niekirk had been Chairman of the Greater London TAVR Association.

General Swinton continued, "One of the few draw- backs that I can think of to being a Guardsman is that unlike the rest of the Army we have no direct link with the Volunteers. Thus for the first 30 years of my military career, what went on in the Reserve Army was a closed book to me. In the last four I have done my best to make up for this, and what I have found never ceases to impress me. What impresses me most is the enthusiasm with which the TAVR tackles its tasks."

The General spoke of the present-day role of the TAVR, daunting, perhaps. The Volunteer of today has an almost superhuman task to learn all he has to in a short time as well as winning the Wellie Boot chucking at Annual Camp and appearing immaculate at the Lord Mayor's Show, to which he was looking forward to watching. The Volunteer could not do all this unless there was dedication, enthusiasm and energetic support, all three ingredients present in The Scottish.

His words were warmly accepted and he was obviously moved by the applause which came forth. Major Treseder now replied and thanked the General for his kind and generous remarks and delightful speech.

" May I say what an enormous pleasure it is to me to see so many people here tonight, this special night of remembrance and joyful reunion, and what a wonderful demonstration it is of the great spirit of our Regiment. It is my duty to report on the state of the serving element of The London Scottish. I can no longer say the Serving Coy because we are more than that. We now have a Rifle Coy, half the Bn Anti-Tank Pin, a number of people with Bn Headquarters, and of course the Pipes and Drums all serving in Hodden Grey.

Let us hope that they are the nucleus of a new London Scottish Bn in time to come - with a Scots Guards Drill Sergeant.

"This has been a year of change, and a year of achievement. Our establishment has increased as I have said, and we have had a change of Joint Honorary Colonel, Coy Commander, Coy 2IC, CSM, C/Sgt, Anti-Tank Pin Commander, all Pln Sgts and most Section Commanders - together with many new promotions and new recruits. These changes have not been without their traumas, but there has been a new air of forward thinking and flexibility about the place, and a great upsurge in morale. Whatever else may have happened I believe that this has been a happy year for The London Scottish, and one in which our military knowledge and efficiency has increased.

"Our training exercises have taken us from Scotland to West Wales, and across the length and breadth of England. Thanks to some superb co-operation from a friendly RAF we have had extensive helicopter flying, and have learnt to exploit their characteristics of speed, surprise and flexibility in modern warfare. We practised slinging our anti-tank guns underneath the aircraft for the first time, and flying them into new positions in rapid redeployment, proving that the Volunteer can adapt to new ideas and techniques very quickly. Under the leadership of Lt Robinson, who has just been promoted Captain and who will be the new 2IC, the Anti-Tank Pln has become an efficient and jovial private army, with a waiting list ready to join. The Rifle Plns are equally good. Camp at Penally this year was voted a great success by all who attended. We trained hard and worked hard, with a really good programme worked out and well-executed by Bn Headquarters. Everyone had a happy and useful time, and came away better trained and rather thinner than when they arrived.

"Another good aspect of the year has been the closer relationships we have established with the Gordons, now that they have returned from Ulster; and with our own two Cadet Coys. It has been a good move to bring the Westminster Coy into this Drill Hall, and from what I have seen of the Eltham and Westminster Cadets, both here and on exercise, they are an impressive bunch who wear our uniform with justifiable pride, and whom we must support with all our hearts. We have had some first-class recruits from them.

"Tonight it is my sad task to hand over command at midnight to my successor, Patrick Layden, who has been my 2IC and right-hand man. It has been a wonderful year for me, which I shall always remember, and I am proud and honoured to have had the privilege of commanding men who are without doubt the best soldiers in the Territorial Army. I wish that I could have stayed longer and done more. Everyone has been incredibly kind to me, and I have had tremendous support from all sides, which I know will also be extended to my successor.

"As we look to the future we can see the business of soldiering becoming ever more complicated, and the pressures on the Volunteer correspondingly greater. I hope that the powers that be will recognise the tremendous contribution made by the Volunteer Army to the defence of this country with some hard cash to reward long hours of training, and by removing some of the problems by restoring the concept of territoriality to the Territorial Army.

"Whatever the problems, I know that The London Scottish will keep their high standards of excellence, and remain where they have always been, in the forefront of the Army. The spirit of the Regiment is what matters, we have made great sacrifices in the past and gained great honour; that spirit lives on and today's serving soldiers are as good as any who have served before. Those in positions of power must look to the future and ensure that The Scottish train for the next conflict with imagination, and the best possible equipment, so that the spirit is not wasted.

"Finally, may I thank all those who have served with me, together with all past members of the Regiment, for their loyal and cheerful support. May I also especially thank our PSI's for all their efforts on behalf of the Coy. We are proud to be Gordons, and to have men of their calibre as instructors. May I wish Patrick Layden the best of luck, and thank him too for all he has done to make my tour easier., and last, but not least, may I wish all those now serving every good fortune, and much happiness in your soldiering. You are great men and I salute you all."

There was a standing ovation by Serving Members for the Coy Commander, genuinely sorry that his tour of duty had finished. Auld Lang Syne was now called for and sung with gusto, verses being taken by Hamish Sutherland, Captain P. Layden, CSM G. Woodall, Colonel Baigrie and Colonel A. F. Niekirk. There followed the National Anthem and so the official side ended. A good Hallowe'en was had by all and the reminiscences followed for a long time afterwards.

The citation read by Major Hugh Treseder at Hallowe'en:

"LANCE CORPORAL THOIRS has made an outstanding contribution to the efficiency and well-being of the Serving Unit during the past year, in a field which is often forgotten or ignored. To put it simply he has looked after the stores and the grub. He was promoted earlier in the year for his excellent work as the Coy storeman, and for the great contribution he has made to the smooth administration of the unit, without which we could not function properly.

"His major sphere of activity, however, has been in the onerous and thankless task of cooking. He has cooked for us in the field and here in 59 whenever we have asked him, which has been frequently, and he has done it outstandingly well, giving up many hours of his time to do so. Food is all-important to the soldier, as Napoleon knew, and if a man is to be able to fight and survive in the cold and the wet he needs a good meal inside him.

"L/Cpl Jimmy Thoirs has been providing those good meals in all sorts of conditions, cheerfully, without grumbling, and so efficiently that the rest of us have been able to take it all for granted. In 59 he has kept the cost down and the quality up whilst catering for all sorts of dinners and functions, and there are many here tonight with reason to thank him.

"Besides being an excellent cook he is also an excellent soldier, smart, good at his job, willing to have a go at anything, and always cheerful and ready to help others. He is a fine example of the best sort of London Scot, a good comrade in arms, and a most deserving recipient of this fine trophy."

"Once more the autumn fog slowly covers the Messines Ridge but not our feelings of gratitude towards the gallant London Scottish Regiment.

"In a few days I shall have the honour to lay a wreath on the foot of the Memorial in the company of the Town Secretary of Messines. A bagpiper will play The Rowan Tree, a veteran friend of the Royal Scots Regiment will recite the exultation and after two minutes of silence, buglers of the Royal Messines Band will play the British Last Post.

"Thereby we wish to witness to all our friends of 59 Buckingham Gate that the flame of remembrance is kindled again.

"May I respectfully ask you to forward my warmest feelings of friendship and loyalty to all the members of both the Regiment and the Regimental Association on the occasion of Hallowe'en 1978."