What: The 39 Engineer Regiment held its annual cocktail party and Beating Retreat ceremony
Where: The Officers’ Mess at Kinloss Barracks, Moray
Who: The event was hosted by the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Tom Marsden, along with officers and warrant officers from the regiment.
The 50 guests represented a wide cross-section of the local community and included Vice Lord Lieutenant of Moray Jim Royan, Angus Robertson MP, Moray Council leader Allan Wright and Moray Council chief executive Roddy Burns. Also present were local authority and community council members, Rotarians, school teachers, members of the serving and retired military community and local business leaders.
Why: In his address to the guests the commanding officer said the purpose of the cocktail party was to recognise the assistance afforded to the regiment by members of the wider community and to further develop the close links established in the two years the regiment has been at Kinloss Barracks.
After being offered drinks and canapes the guests were invited to the join the regiment outside for a traditional Beating Retreat ceremony, at which the music was provided by the Royal Regiment of Scotland Band.
Beating Retreat has its origins in the early years of organised warfare when the beating of drums and the parading of post guards heralded the closing of camp gates and the lowering of flags at the end of the day.