Edinburgh Tattoo

For those interested

If there is ONE THING us Brits do well it is pomp and ceremony. This is due to our rich history and traditions going back centuries. A lot of these traditions and ceremonies are to do with our Monarchy and Military.

Most of the ceremonies we have, including Royal Weddings and Funerals and things like Trooping the Colour are done in London, involving thousands of civilians and military personnel. For example, the late Queen Elizabeth II had an operation called OP London Bridge.

There are different OPs for the different members of the Royal Family. Please have a quick read of OP London Bridge and you’ll see how much planning went into it.

A lesser known ceremony is The Edinburgh Tattoo which starts on the 2nd August and ends on the 24th August. I nearly got trawled to help out with it but due to medical appointments I am unable to.

Now in this day and age there are a lot of people that will say that this is a huge waste of taxpayer money that could be spent on better things. In my younger days, I was one of them.

Today though, I would much rather spend the tax payer money on things like this than spending it abroad on foreign aid and the forever wars. With the current progressive Left trying their hardest to destroy our cultures and traditions it is especially important that money spent on things like this.

So before I go any further I should explain the other meaning of the word Tattoo. The term “tattoo” derives from a 17th-century Dutch phrase “doe den tap toe” ("turn off the tap") a signal to tavern owners each night, played by a regiment's Corps of Drums, to turn off the taps of their ale kegs so that the soldiers would stop drinking and retire to their lodgings at a reasonable hour.

With the establishment of modern barracks and full military bands later in the 18th century, the term "tattoo" was used to describe the last duty call of the day, as well as a ceremonial form of evening entertainment performed by military musicians.

Lets continue.

In 1949, as part of The Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama 'Something About a Solider' was performed at the Ross Bandstand in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens. The performance was produced by Lieutenant Colonel George Malcolm of Poltalloch. The same year, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm also produced ‘The King’s Men’ on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for a standing audience of 2,500. Following these two productions, the new Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir Andrew Murray extended an invite to the General Officer Commanding the Army in Scotland. Asking him to present a military ‘show’ to be called the Edinburgh Tattoo. Informally, it was agreed that this would take place annually during the Edinburgh International Festival.

In 1950 the first Edinburgh Tattoo (now The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo) took place. The production included eight items and attracted an audience of 100,000 over its 20 performances. Lieutenant Colonel George Malcolm was the first Tattoo Producer with Brigadier Alasdair Maclean of The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders as Director of the first Tattoo.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and HRH Princess Margaret attended the final night of this inaugural production with legendary English conductor and impresario Sir Thomas Beecham conducted the combined military bands.

Fireworks were first used at the 1950 production. From 1950 onwards the tradition of finale fireworks was born.

Pipe Major George Stoddart (see pic above) performed as the first Tattoo Lone Piper. Going on to perform as Lone Piper for the next 11 years until 1961.

By 1961 sound recording equipment and expertise had greatly improved and the first twelve-inch stereo LP record was made. This was also the first year that the tri-service woman’s groups performed for the first time (the Women’s Royal Naval Service, Women’s Royal Army Corps and the Women’s Royal Air Force).

The 1965 production included ‘Operation 007: An unusual incident in the life of the Royal Marine Commandos’. A display that included the real world-famous James Bond Aston Martin Car and the Royal Marine Commandos.

In 1975, the old scaffolding stands were replaced with stands built using a new German Construction technique – these new stands were used for the next 36 years.

Elaine (right) at last year’s Tattoo with Lone Piper Megan Beveridge

In 1977, Officer Cadet Elaine Marnoch smashed through the glass ceiling to become the first female Lone Piper.

In 1984, the role of Tattoo commentator was shared for the first time. Identical twins, Lieutenant Colonels Stuart and Ian McBain shared the duty.

In 1992 The Highland Cathedral, one of the world’s most famous pipe pieces was performed for the first time at the Tattoo. 

1996 marked the first performance by the United States Army Silent Drill Display Team at the Tattoo.

2002 celebrated Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Her Majesty The Queen also attended the 2002 Tattoo.

The Royal Navy were the 2005 lead service – 2005 also marked 60 years since the end of World War 2 and 200 years since the Battle of Trafalgar. Learn more about HMS Victory and the Battle of Trafalgar here.

2012 commemorated the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. The Hoff also attended.

In 2018 ex RAF pilot Colin McGregor (Ewan McGregor’s older brother) performed a moving poem ‘High Flight’ – a special tribute to the late servicemen and women of the RAF. Laser technology was also used for the last time.

So I hope this has peaked your interest. People might sneer at something like this but it’s the traditions, pomp and ceremony here that we need to keep.

I hope I find you all happy and healthy

Vulkan

The Edinburgh Tattoo from 2023.

And the Field Gun.