Chief Executive’s Welcome
Welcome to the ‘Annual Association Meeting’ edition of LQ! You will already have seen the e-pack – and I hope you have cast your vote for this year’s Board Members! This LQ includes a link to our Annual Report – an absolute must read!
We are looking forward to seeing you en masse at Glasgow Caledonian University on Thursday 15 May, 1800 for 1830-2115. Speakers include our President (Moira Niven, Lord-Lieutenant of West Lothian), the Chair of our Board (Air Cdre James Linter), Commander Joint Military Command Scotland aka 51 Brigade (Brig Jody Davies), Commander 19 Light Brigade (Brig Lisa Brooks) and representatives from all three Cadet organisations to tell us about their Cadet Experience. Buffet supper to follow. Please take the time to read our Annual Report – the link is below – before the meeting. It would be good to beat last year’s record number of online readers – go for it!
We await the publication of the Strategic Defence Review – we know not when – and so continue to deliver against our Service Level Agreements with the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Chief of Defence People. But we do so with an eye on the likelihood of reinvigorated Reserve Forces and an expansion of Cadets. Our forebears in 1913, 1938 and 1982 will have had to do the same. But we all understand that aspiration can only be turned into reality with sufficient resource. We already know that Defence spending is to increase to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and that there is ambition to increase this to 3% in the next Parliament, but is this really enough? Tough decisions will have to be made.
Following on from Caitlin Fitzsimmons’ CARA last December, we now laud Hannah Riding who was awarded the Army Cadet Charitable Trust (Scotland)’s Inspirational Adult Volunteer Award last Saturday at Edinburgh Castle. Of course, Hannah wasn’t there to receive it in person – she was busy inspiring Cadets elsewhere! Both Caitlin and Hannah are key members of our team at Lowland House. Well done and thank you to them both for all that they do for young Scots.
Finally, I am very pleased to inform you that Colin Vooght, our Head of Engagement, was awarded the Scottish Veterans Lifetime Achievement Award at a spectacular Black Tie event on Wednesday 30 April at Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh. Colin’s service to Queen, King and Country over a number of decades (you can’t count them on one hand) is second to none. There could not have been – nor clearly was there – a more deserving nomination. On behalf of us all at Lowland RFCA, very well done Colin.
See you on 15 May!
Lord-Lieutenants’ Awards
It’s been a busy few months on the awards presentations front, with Lord-Lieutenant’s Certificates of Meritorious Service being presented to Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from Edinburgh, East and West Lothian, Berwickshire, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran and Dumfries.
A number of the events have seen award recipients and Lord-Lieutenants from numerous areas celebrating together in joint ceremonies, with those from Berwickshire and the Lothians joining their Edinburgh counterparts at City Chambers on Thursday 6 March. Similarly, the Lord-Lieutenants for Ayrshire & Arran and Dumfries hosted a joint awards ceremony for the award winners from their areas at A’ the Airts Community Art Centre in Sanquhar on Monday 7 April.
Our Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards event for 2024 will take place on Thursday 29 May, when the Lord-Lieutenant for Renfrewshire Colonel Peter McCarthy will present Certificates of Meritorious Service to his Lieutenancy’s worthy winners in the stunning surroundings of Paisley Abbey.
Top Turnout at Turnberry
Just over a year on from their inaugural event, Lowland RFCA once again teamed up with Trump Turnberry to host their Armed Forces Covenant Business Breakfast for Forces-friendly employers and members of the Lowlands Defence Community.
The hotel and golf resort, which received its Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award in 2024, opened up its ballroom on Wednesday 2 April to over 200 guests, which included Reservists, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) and representatives from over 100 Lowlands-based businesses and organisations.
The event was a huge networking opportunity for military and civilian guests alike, as well as a celebration and presentation of 43 Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze Awards and two Silver Awards.
Among those presented was Ayr Housing Aid Centre, a charitable organisation committed to helping residents throughout South Ayrshire with housing issues by providing free and independent services.
‘We’ve always been re
ally passionate about helping service personnel, it’s always been a fundamental part of what we believe in as a charity,’ said Suzanne Slavin, Ayr Housing Aid Centre’s CEO.
‘We help a lot of people in the local area who are either in the Armed Forces or have served previously by offering them free housing advice, so signing the Covenant was a move that just made a lot of sense to us.’
Speaking about receiving the Bronze Award for Ayr Housing Aid Centre at Turnberry, Ms Slavin continued: ‘I’ve never been here before so it’s certainly a treat and a very nice way to start the day!’
Supporting the Troops on International Women’s Day
For this year’s International Women’s Day (Saturday 8 March), Lowland RFCA was delighted to team up with 215 Scottish Multirole Medical Regiment as they played host to ‘Supporting the Troops’, a special sports bra fitting for Regular and Reserve Army personnel in Scotland.
During the event, which was split into a morning and afternoon session, attendees received an insightful briefing on the science of sports bras and the importance of having well-fitted, comfortable and functional clothing, especially in physically active and demanding situations.
The briefing was followed by complimentary sports bra fittings courtesy of No Bounce Sport, whose founder Jen Misseldine is committed to providing women and girls with an equal opportunity to thrive in any sporting – or military training – activity.
Covering All Bases at Dechmont with 71 Engineer Regiment
On Saturday 22 February Lowland RFCA invited Forces-friendly employers from the construction and engineering sectors to join them on a visit at Dechmont Training Area, where Reservists from 71 Engineer Regiment were busy 
pairing their regular military training with maintenance and upgrade works around the Range.
Local Colleges Committing to Armed Forces Covenant
Borders College recently re-affirmed its commitment to supporting its local Armed Forces Community, hosting a ceremony at its Galashiels campus with staff and military representatives in attendance to witness a re-signing of the Armed Forces Covenant.
Pete Smith, Principal and CEO of the college, said of the re-signing: ‘We are extremely proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and pledge to continue supporting the Armed Forces community, both as an education and training provider and as an employer.’
Hot on the heels of Borders College came the University of the West of Scotland, who signed its own Armed Forces Covenant on Friday 4 April. The event saw Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor James Miller co-sign alongside Lieutenant Colonel Gary Giles RM, Chief of Staff Navy Regional Command Scotland & Northern Ireland.
Attendees to the event also enjoyed a chance to hear an address from a special guest at the event, Scottish Veterans Commissioner Lieutenant Commander (retired) Susie Hamilton.
Lowland RFCA Annual Report 24/25
The Lowland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association Annual Report for 2024/25 is now ready to view. The full report can be accessed by clicking here.
Dates for your Diary
Lowland RFCA Annual Association Meeting
Thursday 15 May at Glasgow Caledonian University, 1830-2115. Association Members are reminded to cast their votes by 2359 on Thursday 8 May via this link.
Renfrewshire Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards
Thursday 29 May at Paisley Abbey, 1830-2100. The Lord-Lieutenant for Renfrewshire, Colonel Peter McCarthy, will be presenting Certificates of Meritorious Service to local Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers in recognition of their unwavering commitment to both the civilian and Defence communities.
Our Highlight Reels…
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