The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Dear Ann,
It is Christmas Night & for the past two hours I have been watching one of my very famourite programmes: The Edinburgh Tattoo, which I watch every year when I am home. I don’t know if you have ever heard of it or ever watched it, but it is certainly worth viewing. The marching is carried out with military precision, which always takes me back to when I was a schoolgirl.
I don’t remember being in the kindergarten classes when I was a little girl, but when I was in primary class I remember it well. I did not enjoy those school years at all as I was a very meek soul in those days & had to contend with a lot of bullying which is nothing new, it still happens.
King of Norway’s Guard Band and Drill team
Also I had a headmaster who was mentally cruel & I would not be the only one to admit that. His name was Mr. Bartram. I have often been noted for my comment over the years that I don’t hate many people, but I did admit to hating Adolph Hitler & Mr. Bartram. He almost crucified me & also the girl friends I made at school in those years.
If he appeared in my school room I would freeze because I knew he would pick on me; have me out in front of the whole class while I held my arms out at his command to be caned. If if I cried I would get caned again. I could not learn a thing when he took a class.
Likewise at singing, when we were practicing for a combined school Eisteddfod with the local High School. He would sit us in rows across the auditorium. Those pupils whom he held in disdain would still be humiliated.
He would come along as we were all practicing our songs & hold his head to your mouth & woe betide you if you were not in tune. Of course I was one of the unfortunate ones whom he would pick to take out front of the whole group & cane because he said I was singing out of tune.
He hated me & the feeling was mutual. The humiliation & embarrassment was terrible.
When the latter happened to me I decided to trick him so next time when he went past I would simply mouth the words without sound. Didn’t matter, out the front & get caned for that too.
So if I am giving off that my school years at Burnie Primary School were not happy years you would not be wrong. I really did detest that man.
I may have already told you that when my Mum told me one day, when we were holidaying in Hobart, Tasmania that Mr Bartram had died, I let out a very mild ‘whoopee’ saying how pleased I was that he was at last dead.
My Mum explained that you should not be like that when speaking of the dead. I assured my Mum that I truly meant it!
I remember the Eisteddfod very well. We practiced so hard & it was a great success. It was held in the Burnie theatre with Mr. Bartrum as the conductor dressed up in long tails, white shirt, black tie & looked absolutely so different & immaculate I could not believe it.
He conducted us well with Primary & High School singing together. He must have trained us well as he received accolades in the local paper next day. I guess I have mellowed towards him in my advanced years forgiving him for his cruelty (I have only told you a little of that) deciding that that was the way it was in those days.
Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Band
The songs we sang at that Eisteddfod were very old & very different. They have lived in my memory ever since & I have a great fondness for them. They were songs like Trees & The Floral Dance: very old fashioned melodies.
However, I have deviated at length on what I started to tell you about. Watching the Edinburgh Tattoo  brought back memories of the precision marching we would practice out in the vast school yard, led by our Physical Education teacher.
There were two huge classes for every grade, which would number around one hundred in all. These exercises were carried out while other classes were still in the school room. Each two classes were given PE at different times.
I knew the teacher, Roy Collins, as he was a much older cousin who would not have had a clue that the little lass holding her back straight, picking up her feet & marching like a born soldier was his little cousin! I just loved all that PE stuff, which is why I love watching the Edinburgh Tattoo. I wouldn’t miss it for worlds.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been given that name by HM Queen Elizabeth II after she personally viewed it. The whole thing is an annual series of military tattoos performed by Commonwealth & International Bands & artistic teams on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in the capital of Scotland.
The event is held each August as part of the Edinburgh Festival. The annual attendance at the Tattoo is around 217,000 in person at the Tattoo with several millions more people watching it via television around the world.
Over the years several millions of dollars have also been outlaid to provide the necessary grand stands to hold them all so that they can be erected & dissembled within a month.
Tattoo Fireworks Finale and grandstands.
Several countries throughout the world take part. Those who are selected to play in the bands, dancing, singing & marching are no doubt the best in the world.
The bands play while they march, forming different patterns like hexagons, rectangles that sort of thing. Never is a step out of place nor one foot or arm lifted or swung higher than it should be. I really do get mesmerised by it all.
The dancing is the same. It is magnificent to watch. Not only all the actions, but also the uniforms & beautiful dancing garments & the dancers always are smiling. I doubt there is one speck of dust on a military shoe or boot either!
It must be such an honour to perform at the Tattoos & one can’t help but admire the magnificent performances given, which are different every year.
Always at the end of the Tattoo the Lone Piper stands from the top of Edinburgh Castle to render a fitting piece of music on his bugle when it’s not unusual to get goosebumps!
Before this takes place all the military bands take part en masse, every single dancer & singer come altogether on the Esplanade for the final performance. Then after the Lone Piper concludes his rendition the fireworks bring it all to a close & there’s something of a sadness because it is all over for another year.
Many years ago when Max & I were touring around Europe we were actually in attendance at a Military Tattoo. Our friends there had organised to take us to this event two nights after we arrived in Holland one time & yes, it was well worth it. We were very thrilled as It truly is amazing.
Lots of love, Dawn X O X O