Third Session of the Scottish Parliament 2007: MSP Politics & Bagpipes Parade Scotland

http://www.willowcreekpictures.com/

A special day for Scotland in Edinburgh, UK began with the opening of the third session of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The programme for the day began with the National Youth Choir of Scotland from Dumfries played in the debating chamber. After that at about 9.55am, the Duke of Hamilton along with the Crown of Scotland left Edinburgh Castle accompanied by a half company of the Scots Guards in addition to the Royal Regiment of Scotland, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Bagpipers and Drums who were led down the Royal Mile by Police.

At 10:10am, a Guard of Honour was created consisting of the Royal Company of Archers in company with Officers of Arms and the bagpipes of the Royal Scots Borderers which is an amalgamation of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and the Royal Scots.

At 10:20am, the Royal Company of Archers, Pursuivants, Heralds, and the Duke of Hamilton along with the Crown of Scotland made their to the Debating Chamber through the Conongate entrance awaiting the arrival of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2 along with the Scottish Parliament Edinburgh's Mace bearer holding the Mace.

After that, HM Queen along with the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Queensberry House, at the entrance of the Scottish Parliament on the Canongate, Royal Mile. They were both greeted by Rt Hon the Lord Provost and Councillor now current Lord Provost, George Grubb not forgetting Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh and the Lady Provost. The Lord Lieutenant presented the MSP, Alex Fergusson, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament and MSP, Alasdair Morgan and finally the Deputy Presiding Officer.

When they arrived, they went to the Garden Lobby to meet with Alex Salmond, the First Minister and Leader of the Scottish National Party, Jack McConnell of the Scottish Labour Party, Annabel Goldie MSP and Leader of the Scottish Conservatives and also Nicol Stephen, MSP and leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

In the main chamber, a fanfare introduction was played in the chamber. The format of the session included the Presiding Officer opening the meeting formally welcoming British HM Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

At 11:00am, the riding took place departing from New Street onto the Canongate down the Royal Mile. Various community groups and representative for Scotland took part in a parade ending in Holyrood Park. These included Chiefs, Police, the Edinburgh Chinese Community, Bag pipes, Viking displays and other local musicians such as the Hot Chilie Peppers. At 12:00pm, the event turned into the picnic at the Parliament Scottish.

Acts included at the picnics; the Blazin Fiddles, the TNT Bag Pipe Band in kilts, the talented Catriona Watt from the RSAMD Music academy, the Waa Sylla from Dancebase, Keith Jack, Salsa Celtica, Coisir Ghadhlig Inbhir Nis, an Inverness Gaelic Choir, Feis Rois, the Portobello Ceilidh Band and Idlewild completing a Celtic music flavour to the day.

In addition to these performers, there were also performers inside the Garden Lobby inside the Parliament such as Jarls Squad 2007, Shetland's Up Hella Aa, Taiko Therapy from Beeslack Community High School in Penicuik, Midlothian. A few more performers included the Kintyre Schools Pipe Band and the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society from Edinburgh.

The riding parade consisted of 1,200 people which is known historically as a procession marking the opening of Parliament which occured for each new meeting of Parliament up until the Treaty of Union in 1707. The riding started from Market Street heading down the Royal Mile. The parades began with the Royal Marines Band with their recognisable white helmets. The band on display is the Royal Marines Band Scotland who are based on HMS Caledonia, Rosyth and their musical director is called Captain Tony Smallwood, the drum major being Major Gavin Moxworthy.

The marines were followed by educational groups created from East Syrshire MSYPs from Cumnock and Vivid LGBT group from Glasgow. Dance base followed close behind with the Kintyre Schools Pipe Band from Campbeltown in Argyll close behind. There were also Enterprise banners made from the Kible Education and Care Centre, Paisley and Momentum, Scotland.

The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama was present having had an impressive history of success with their graduating and successful actors, Tom Conti, Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle, Alan Cumming and James McAvoy. The Scottish Youth Theatre provides national theatre for and by young people, aged 3-25.

Other notable participants included Lung Ha's Theatre Company, Ronak Baja and Te Pooka. I shhould note that there was a protest which took place too.

Video Produced by Alan Taylor, Alan Andrew Taylor of Willow Creek Pictures

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• yt:crop=16:9
• edinburgh
• parliament
• parliment
• royal marines
• marines
• british army
• royal marine
• the royal marines
• bagpipes
• scotland the brave
• scottish music
• scotland
• dance
• street dancers
• scots guards
• protest
• independence
• short movie
• short films
• amateur
• politics
• events
• news
• picnic
• royal scots
• protests
• royal scots guards
• pipes
• guards
• event
• singing
• rsamd
• performers
• scottish
• queen
• people
• ceremony
• uk

[laflorrodriguez]

me encanta escosia(L)

[WillowCreekPictures]

@laflorrodriguez I have to admit, I love it too :) Thanks for the comment.

[Norrie754]

Well done, good effort on a great occasion

[WillowCreekPictures]

@Norrie754 Many thanks

[laflorrodriguez]

@WillowCreekPictures de nada:) saludos¡.

[ramboice]

true, armed forces is an issue, I personally think that with independence comes an alliance through necessity, if the island was ever invaded we would need a joint effort to defend all the nations. There is also the UN and NATO to go down, although the SNP are sceptics it would be up to the Scottish people to decide what defence arrangements they want, not the SNP

[WillowCreekPictures]

I'd agree with your comments, Scotland needs it's own voice. It is good to be part of a nation though especially when considering the armed forces and at our level, friends who come from down south. I'm not a very political person but I guess no one is until you get involved in it.

[ramboice]

ah ok, well it works cause thats how i found the video lol! I have to say I don't feel British as I believe British values conflict with what I percieve as Scottish values. I do think we need to have a good relationship with our UK friends however. I hope we get our independence so a Scottish voice can be heard internationally and we can make our own decisions, but if ppl feel British I can see why they wouldn't want Scottish independence

[WillowCreekPictures]

Actually that's wrong what I just said, this is another video which was originally called Third Session of the Scottish Parliament. I'm trying to figure out how to make people aware of these videos among the millions on youtube, there is a method of doing it. If I ever work it out, I'll pass on the info, it's something that has been bugging me for ages.

[WillowCreekPictures]

That was silly of me to title it like this. I have been experimenting with keywords and titles which have high traffic to see if there is a way of actually matching keywords up to what people are typing. The video was originally just called Scottish Parliament Placement. Interesting comment, thanks. I'd like to think I'm British still, to think we're not as one can never be a good thing in the long term.