Duncan Brown
My Hero, My Soldier Laddie.
Book Launch 20th March 2010
At
Carman Centre
Renton.
Saturday 20th march 2010 at 11.30 am, a parade set off from the Renton War Memorial by way of Station Street and then along the Back Street to the Carman Centre for the official launch of the book My Hero, My Soldier Laddie by Duncan Brown. “A heart rending tale leading to the discovery of 172 of Scotland’s V.C.s”
The parade was led off by Strathleven artizans// 40 bowmen of St. Sebastian’s members John Paterson and Frank Boyd, followed by 4 pipers in full regalia two of whom are members of the Uddingston & Strathclyde Pipe band they are Derek Owen and Hugh Ward.
The other two solo pipers are Greg Stewart and David Stark, they were join by British Legion Veterans from Hamilton in Lanarkshire (both highly decorated) they were Iain Forsyth and Archie (???) sincere apologies for not having Archie second name.
The only low point was that the local veterans failed to appear despite saying that they would be there!!.
The rest of the parade was made up of Strathleven Artizans members including King Robert the Bruce, several members of the public and Community development officer Archie Thomson MBE.
The short parade was completed in about 15 minutes or so, the reason that the route went along Back Street was because during the First world War this Street along with Brown Street (?) in Sheffield were the only two Streets in the whole of Britain to lost a members from every household in their respected Streets and so tying in and honouring the memory, spirit and bravery of the hero’s in Duncan’s book.
The numbers were swelled considerably at the Carman Centre were the hall was filled with the magnificent paintings of the 14 VC winners from Lanarkshire all done by Duncan Brown, along with an array of his books, There was quite a few members of the public in the hall, as well as a good turnout of local councillors and the local MSP Jackie Bailey.
Our very own Archie Thomson MBE got the proceedings going when he told the by now packed hall of the long and winding road that Duncan had been on in his quest to get his book to print and a little bit of the Renton’s war record etc, then after introducing Duncan Brown to the assembled crowd, Duncan then told his story of how the book came to be after a chance meeting with the great grand daughter of the first Scottish Victoria Cross winner David MacKay VC at a wedding in England were he was piping for a friend at his daughters wedding and how this meeting went on to change his life and sent him on a 5 year course which ended with the writing of this book.
He went on to read out a few paragraphs from his book and you could have heard a pin drop.
He went on to thank the Carman Centre, staff and the people of Renton for having faith in him and taking the book to print.
This was followed by a few tunes by the pipers and then Iain Forsyth playing the Last post and reciting Flanders field and yes “WE Will Remember Them”.
After the formalities were over we had some social time to mingle and have photos taken along with the book signing, the books were flying out the door.
A big thanks goes to Drew McEwan, Archie Thomson MBE and all the staff of the Carman Centre for putting before us a fabulous buffet of home made soup and stovies along with tea and coffee very much appreciated thanks again.
Also thanks goes to the Dumbarton camera club who came along to support and film the day’s event also filming for Strathleven Artizans was Alex Calderhead and Artizans photos were by Jim Tannock.
To Conclude Congratulations to Duncan Brown on getting his fabulous book to print and to Drew and the board of directors of the Carman Centre and having the foresight and vision to published Duncan’s book.
A large part of the proceeds from Duncan’s book will go to Erskine Hospital so it was a Major disappointment when no one appeared from Erskine some sort of clerical error on their part, eemm. !!
To the Hero’s and Veterans we all owe you a great debt that can never be repaid……….But Yes………………… “We Will Remember Them”.
Yours Jim Tannock & Strathleven Artizans.
