Classical Brit winning soldier leads Glasgow's celebrations for Armed Forces Day

Jul 2 2009 By Frank Hurley

Gary McLaughlan

AN AWARD-WINNING soldier from Pollok came home to take part in Glasgow's Armed Forces Day on Saturday.

Lance Corporal Gary McLaughlan, 25, is a member of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Pipes and Drums.

The band recently won a Classical Brit Award and are the only non-professional musicians to win the accolade.

The regimental band beat off tough competition in the form of Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westenra, The Priests and Mike Oldfield to win the much coveted NS& I Album of the Year Award with 'Spirit of the Glen: Journey'. Some of the music was recorded while the regiment was on operations in Basra.

After playing with the band in the city, Gary was off to Edinburgh for another Armed Forces Day parade.

The regiment has returned to Scotland after spending most of last year based in Iraq and Afghanistan. He wants to thank the people of Scotland for their support when out there.

Gary, who joined the regiment nine years ago, has served all over the world, both with the Pipes and Drums, and on operations in his full-time job as a crewman on one of the regiment's 62-tonne Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks.

The regiment (Carabiniers and Greys) are Scotland's most senior regiment and its only cavalry (tank) regiment. They are based in Fallingbostel, Germany, but have their regimental HQ and museum in Edinburgh Castle.

A newly-qualified Royal Air Force officer from Barrhead is flying high after graduating from a prestigious military college.

Billy Spence, 23, from No 14 Initial Officer Training (IOT) Course, graduated as a Flying Officer from the Officer and Aircrew Cadet Training Unit at RAF Cranwell.

He joined 147 other cadets outside the historic College Hall to parade in front of the Queen, and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Billy graduated from the University of Glasgow with a BEng (Hons) in Aerospace Engineering. He will now begin his professional training as a pilot.