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**Now Past** Trip to SNWM by SWMDF members? 2007
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Adam Brown
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
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Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:13 pm    Post subject: **Now Past** Trip to SNWM by SWMDF members? 2007 Reply with quote

A good few years ago I went on a guided tour of the Scottish National War Memorial and Scottish United Services Museum organised by the Scottish Genealogy Society (and I think I was the only one without a free bus pass). I was wondering if it was worth looking into organising a similar tour for forum members? It could even be combined with a half pint shandy at the Ensign Ewart afterwards.

It was about 15 years ago I went on this tour so I don’t know if they still do such a thing. The SUSM has been converted into a café / function rooms since then as well. I can’t remember how long the trip lasted but I do remember it was a weekday because I had to take the afternoon off work to go.

We were shown all the interesting features in the Memorial with explanations on the stained glass windows, the Shrine, the symbolism of the carvings, the location of the Tunneller’s Friends memorial at floor level etc. We didn’t get shown any of the background work of the SNWM however which I was a bit disappointed about. This was in the days before the web pages and online database so if they still do a tour I don’t know if that part of it is included now? (By the way the Links page on the SNWM website hasn’t been updated in four years!)

I take it there are minimum and maximum numbers if there are tours. Let me know what you think and we’ll see if it is worth contacting the SNWM

The alternative is just to organise an unofficial tour ourselves and turn up at the ticket office mob-handed. You can gain free entry to the SNWM as long as you don’t enjoy any part of the castle surrounding it. The advantage of this option is that it could be arranged at a weekend if that suited people better.

Let me know your thoughts on this and we’ll see if it’s worth looking into.

Regards

Adam


Last edited by Adam Brown on Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
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David McNay
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
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Location: Lanarkshire, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd certainly be up for a trip to the Memorial. I've meant to visit the last few times I've been in Edinburgh but haven't had the time.

Combining it with a trip to the pub is another great idea... Laughing
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DerekR
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Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm game.
My only reservation is the "no pictures" policy operating within the SNWM.
The Scottish National War Memorial should be the point from which all our other memorials cascade but I feel that it is actually a wee bit detached from this forum for some reason.
However, a mass visit would sonn turn that around Wink
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Malcolm



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:21 pm    Post subject: SNWM Reply with quote

I am up for a visit and a pint in the Ewart - not necessarily in that order.
Aye
Malcolm
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

count me in too please
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DerekR
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll go if the above mentioned four are all buying a round before me Laughing
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jamiemcginlay



Joined: 20 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great idea. I'm game, but I'm a bit snowed under with work just now so I'd need to know the date before I could confirm.
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Adam Brown
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Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jim

There’s nothing planned or organised yet, I was just sounding folk out on the idea. It looks like it’s something worth looking into though.

I’ll contact the SNWM and see if they do tours and if so when they are. If that doesn’t suit us all then we can go to plan B and just arrange an unofficial visit that suits ourselves.

Cheers

Adam
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David McNay
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When you contact them, make enquiries about photography inside the memorial. I'd like to have some of our photos of the memorial on here, but I'd rather have permission to do it.
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9thdiv



Joined: 02 Jan 2007
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Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's a long way by bus, but I would try hard to work it in.
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Adam Brown
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Folks

Good news and some bad news I'm afraid

The good news is they still do the tours and would be delighted to show us round. They can also take us behind the scenes to see the trustee's office.

Here's the bad news

1. No photography inside the Memorial Hall. That came from the horse's mouth, Colonel Shepherd himself, so no go there. He did point out that we can buy some slides or a video whilst there. I'm not surprised about this but it was worth asking.

2. If we want to visit the Scottish National War Museum we'll have to pay entry to the Castle. The old Scottish United Services Museum was an offshoot of the SNWM and was included in their tour. The new one is a National Museums of Scotland museum and is in another part of the Castle.

3. The office is only open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Wednesday mornings so they would prefer a visit then, however Col Shepherd did say they could arrange another time if necessary. If we wanted to see what the trustees do though I'd imagine it would have to be on those days.

Colonel Shepherd is away from the office until 27th March so we've got a couple of weeks before we have to answer.

The days suggested by Colonel Shepherd and the no photgraphy rule are a bit of blow but I'm still keen to try and get something organised.

Cheers

Adam
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Barrie Duncan



Joined: 16 Dec 2006
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Location: Hamilton

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd like to come along should a date be arranged, like the sound of a pint in the Ensign Ewart, maybe even two seeing as its a bit of a journey from Hamilton Laughing
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Adam Brown
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It dawned on me last night that St Giles isn't that far away from the Enisign Ewart and a visit there could possibly be combined with a trip to the SNWM?

For any atheists out there I'm not suggesting we should go and pray rather than drink beer. St Giles has a lot of war memorials and is worth a visit if you're nearby.

It's just down Cockburn Street to the Malt Shovel afterwards as well.

Adam
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dhubthaigh
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds a good idea.
If my shifts allow, I'll come down (no chance of TOIL with the current system I'm afraid).

Mark
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Adam Brown wrote:
It dawned on me last night that St Giles isn't that far away from the Enisign Ewart and a visit there could possibly be combined with a trip to the SNWM?

Adam


Great idea, but.................The last time I went to St Giles, I allowed 90 minutes to photograph the memorials and only got about half of them! Just so no-one thinks it would be an in-depth visit in the time available. UKNIWM lists 87 memorials inside the Cathedral!
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