ONCE AGAIN Hallowe'en was with us. At about 6p.m. onwards members of the London Scottish Regiment, past and present began to invade 59, also official and private guests; and this year for the first time members who fought in the great War dined as guests. Surely there was a considerably bigger attendance than for many years. As usual the Drill Hall Bar was besieged before the Dinner, and once again John Moore, his brother and his cousin did their best to provide sustenance for an ever-swelling throng at a remarkable speed. No galley slaves in the past could have toiled harder. Ron Younger, dealing with the wine orders, had enough to do as well, but he and also Alan Morris, with enough on his plate, joined in to give added manpower. It is nice to think that they had a slightly easier time after 7 pm.

At a few minutes before 7 pm, everyone else already at their places, the Top Table were piped to the Hall from the Officers' Mess by P/M John Spoore, and the Chairman, Colonel A. F. Niekirk asked all to turn and face the 1914/19 War Memorial on which a wreath was placed by Pte Alister Jordan. The Lament was then played,by P/M John Spoore, followed by Reveille by Bugler Sgt M. Crowley. The Grace was said by the Rev A. Cairns and all settled down to an excellent dinner - the well-kent menu of Cock-a-Leekie, Haggis and Bashed Neeps, Steak and Kidney Pie with Croquette Potatoes and Broccoli Spears, and cheese - all very tasty and satisfying and well served throughout.

Colonel Niekirk then read out the telegram he had sent to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, our Honorary Colonel - "Members of the London Scottish Regiment past and present, gathered on Monday 31st October for their Annual Hallowe'en Dinner send Loyal Greetings to Your Majesty", and Her Majesty's gracious reply - "I was delighted to receive your kind message of loyal greetings from the members of the London Scottish Regiment, past and present, on the occasion of the Hallowe'en Dinner. I send to you all gathered at Regimental HQ my best wishes for a most enjoyable dinner".

On the conclusion of the Loyal Toasts, coffee was served and the Messines Trophy presentation took place, but, as the winner of the Trophy was not able to be present it was collected by Pte Ken Duncan.

The Pipe Band opened their programme with a particularly stirring renderingoftheDrumSalute-Men of Messines and their lst set, Slow Air, The Skye Boat Song. Quick March, The Liberton Polka, Strathspey, The Marquis of Huntly's Highland Fling, Quick March, The Battle of the Somme, and when the enthusiastic applause had died down, Lt/Col J. D. MeGregor, MC rose to propose the Toast to Our Guests. He began: "Colonel Niekirk, Mr Secretary of State, welcome Guests and Gentlemen, we have established many traditions in this Regiment, but none gives us more pleasure than that of hospitality. We have worked hard over the years to improve the product, as this dear building of ours, in its 97th year will testify, and tonight is another great opportunity to put our experience to the test, because we have a wonderful list of Guests, both Regimental and private. Time will not permit me to name them all, and I do assure those not mentioned that our welcome to them is just as warm.

This evening we not only celebrate an ancient festival but also the 69th Anniversary of the Battle of Messines, so graphically illustrated on the far wall. It is fitting therefore that we have as Regimental Guests 10 of our veterans who served in the Great War. Gentlemen we salute you - you are part of our living history.

We welcome: Vice-Admiral Sir Ronald Brockman - Knight, Vice-President of the Honourable Society of the Knights of the Round Table, who is paying his second visit to present the Messines Award. Lt/Col Alex Murdoch, CO of 1/51 H Volunteers. The Murdochs are part of Clan MacDonald whose Gaelic translated means "By Sea and Land", a fitting motto for a soldier of today.

Congratulations on a successful Camp in Germany which ended last week. Mr Patrick Lynch, newly elected Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers. We wish you a successful term of office. Mr Bruce Dehn, Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Distillers, no stranger to us and always welcome. Captain Tug Wilson, Master of the Caledonian Schools. We have had a long, happy association with the schools and many of the ex pupils served in the Regiment. The Rev Sandy Cairns, Assistant Minister at St. Columba's. He is deputising for Dr Fraser McLuskey our Regimental Chaplain. Lt General Sir Alexander Boswell, COC Scotland who has made the journey from Edinburgh to be with us. You are one of our old friends and we recall that you were Director of the TA and an Argyll & Sutherland Highlander. Colonel Stephen Carden, Chairman of the TA Association of Greater London, and another old friend. Brigadier Peter Bowser, Secretary of the TA Association of Greater London, on good authority we know that you do a lot of work for the TA. Colonel Martin van Niekirk, Armed Forces Attached at the South African Embassy in London.  A very special welcome to you - nearly the same name as our Alan but not related, we trust you will be Brothers in the spirit by the end of tonight. Commander Cyril Bagguley, Secretary of the Caledonian Club, the first visit of many to come, we hope. Mr Raymond Harris and Mr Frank Taylor, Regimental Architects, and Mr Tim Simon, Regimental Surveyor, we thank you and Mr lan McCulloch, Regimental Counsel, who was unable to be present tonight, for your continuing efforts to ensure our future in a new HQ. Lt/Colonel Gavin Peebles, who has recently completed his term as CO of lst Gordons, our parent Regiment with whom we have had a long and happy relationship. The Gordons always have given their best people as our permanent staff and that tradition continues. We welcome the PSIs of today, S/M Schroeder, C/S Eirick and Sgt Glen.

Colonel McGregor then said how disappointing it was that Colonel David Carnegie-Arbuthnot, Hon Colonel of 1/51 He had been unable to attend, sending his apologies and regrets.

He continued: "Our principal Guest, to whom we extend a special welcome is the Rt Honourable George Younger, Secretary of State for Scotland, an office he has held for four years. He has had a distinguished political career and his recent appointment to the Star Chamber indicates the high standing in senior government.

As a soldier he served with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in Germany and Korea, and later as a TA in (he famous 8th Bn. He is Colonel of the 154 Lowland Transport Regiment and a member of the Queen's Bodyguard in Scotland (The Royal Archers).

Apart from being busy with his constituency of Ayr he is a Director of several Industrial Companies so we are grateful to him that out of a very full schedule he has taken time to be with us.

There is an old saying -'A Prophet is without honour in his own country'. That does not apply to you, Minister, for not only have they accorded you honour, but they hold you in esteem and affection, and in our books no man can ask for more.

Gentlemen, be upstanding - I give you the Toast coupled with the name of the Rt Hon George Younger".

In his reply and proposing the toast to the Regiment The Rt Hon George Younger, MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, made a short, amusing speech. He thanked Lt/Col McGregor on behalf of all the guests for their warm welcome and the hospitality lavished upon them and regretted that he had to get back to the House of Commons immediately after speaking to avoid incurring the wrath of the Whips.

He then went on to pay tribute to the London Scottish Regiment in its long and justly proud history and felt certain that the traditions they had inherited in the London Scottish Coy would be nobly upheld.

The last year has been a momentous one for the Company in that our whole future has been threatened. As part of the rationalisation of the TA it was proposed that G Coy would become part of a London Regiment. In my view that would have meant the end of the London Scottish if not immediately, then in the foreseeable future.

Fortunately in the discussions that took place we have a number of supporters and I would like to mention four in particular. First, GOC Scotland played a major part in his support for our role in 1/51 Highland.  I am certain that the solidarity from Scotland strengthened our case, and we should be extremely grateful. Secondly, London TAVRA always considered our position sympathetically although I am sure that the "London Regiment" had considerable advantages. However, Colonel Carden loyally supported us and presented our case in a number of important meetings. This again was vital. Thirdly, my own CO fought long and hard for the Coy. I am sure that at times his London Coy causes him some problems and that it does require commitment to maintain the standards of such a widespread unit. Nevertheless it was always clear that the CO would fight to keep his unit together. Lastly, I would mention the Regimental Colonel. Over the last two years I have been conscious of his interest without interference, and have greatly valued his advice on a number of occasions.  I am absolutely certain that we would not have maintained the status of "G" Coy without his unstinting efforts and hard work.

I feel it is right that these people should be thanked publicly for what they have done. And I would now remind the Serving Coy that their efforts on our behalf mean that we are now faced with a challenge and a debt to pay.  The challenge is that we must now live up to what has been claimed for us. If we are to have a unique position in the TA, then we must justify that by a unique performance.  We may be a good Coy but we are certainly not as good as we should be; so, therefore, we must work at improving our performance to meet the challenge thrown down to us and to repay the debt to those who have worked for us."

After this the Pipe Band played their second set: Quick March, LtCol. A. F. Niekirk, TD; Strathspey, Thick Lies the Mist on Yonder Hill,. Reel, The Ale is Dear; Quick March, Cullen Bay and they finished their evening's programme by playing the Regimental March.

We must congratulate P/M John Spoore, D/M Brian Alderson and his pipers and drummers for a great performance.

There followed the presentation of a Silver Fruit Basket suitably engraved and a Blue Leather-Bound Book signed by our Honorary Colonel, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Fifty-six years ago tonight - as a young TA soldier newly passed out of the Recruits' Squad - l attended my first Hallowe'en at 59.  There are many present tonight whose memories of the Scottish go back even further, but like them I have been privileged to serve under - and with - many distinguished London Scots.

I will stick my neck out and say that I doubt if any have done more to earn the admiration and gratitude of our Regiment than the present - about to retire at midnight - Regimental Colonel.

Much of what Alan has done for the Scottish is known to you all. He is, in every respect a son of the Regiment, his late father to whom we are indebted for much, in particular the establishment of our Regimental Library, set him a high standard of loyalty to the Scottish which Alan has more than maintained.

Only those who have worked with him, however, can know how much time and labour he has devoted to our interests, sustained, I may say, by the unfailing and unstinted support of his wife, Christine.

I feel that I have been greatly honoured to be "detailed" to ask Colonel Niekirk, on your behalf, to accept our token of appreciation and gratitude for all he has done for the Scottish, and I have every hope that we shall continue to benefit from his advice and assistance for many years to come."

In his closing remarks Colonel Niekirk congratulated the Hallowe'en Committee on their organisation and success of the evening. He had been particularly happy to note that 10 1914-18 veterans were present; one of whom, A. F. Moffat, was 90 that day. He paid tribute to Alan Morris for his hard and dedicated work for the Scottish, and to all those who had, and still were, giving such devoted service. He was most grateful to all for his presentation and greatly touched to hear in the second set of the Pipe Band's programme the Quick March named after himself. A very nostalgic evening for him, and he wished Colonel Anderson, taking over from him at midnight as Regimental Colonel, every success, hoping that he would find it as rewarding as he had done.

And so the official part of the evening ended in the customary manner with a vast circle round the Drill Hall, and the Evening Hymn.

Ist Verse: Substitute for Hamish Sutherland (the name eludes me).

2nd Verse: Sgt N. McTavish. 3rd Verse: Chips Turner.

4th Verse: Cpl A. Baigric. 5th Verse: Colonel A. F. Niekirk.

No doubt many unofficial parties then ensued for the young in heart of all ages, but, for most of us it was the end of a fully-fulfilled emotional occasion.

Our thanks to 'Jumbo Ford' for the drawing on the front of the menu (the first of many?); to the Stewards from the 95 (London Scottish) Cadet Coy, Eltham and 235 (Westminster) Cadet Coy, The London Scottish, and to Peter Underwood who took the photographs during the evening.