The School Dormitories
On Arrival at the School the first Dorm, which would be your Home for the First Year was called Clyde,
C Company. This always remained as the Rookie Company Dorm.
After a Year you would be Posted to your New Company. There were three Companies, A. B. D.
I dont know how the System worked as to which Dorm you were allocated, suffice to say I was very happy
where I ended up and that was A Coy.The rivalry was at a Boiling Point between the three Companies
all the time.
Your Company was the Elite and you strived very hard to make it the Best. You were on a Learning Curve and it
could be rather difficult at times. There were umpteen things one had to learn, and, you were, in a very short time
expected to be very proficient at them. Cleaning Shoes, Darning Socks, Laying a Bed out for Inspection, cleaning
and sweeping your own Bed Space, to name but a few. Spit and Polish? the Guards were nothing compared to
this lot.
I tell a lie the Scots Guards were a hellavu lot easier because of all I learned at Q.V.S.
Life was hard and could be brutal at times, we were turfed out doors during Dinner Break no matter what the
weather. I remember on a few occasions suffering a cold and trying to wrap myself around a hot radiator before
bieng shown the door.
I would also like to point out that both my Tutors in the Guards were ex QVS Boys. At the Guards Piping School
Pirbright was Pipe Sgt Kenneth ( Curly ) Roe. BEM and at the 1st Battalion Scots Guards was Pipe Major John
S. ( Gabby ) Roe. BEM. John Roe was Pipe Major 1st Bn. from 1949 till Retirement in 1965. He was a first class
Tutor and a Master Setting up a Band. Very Good with Reeds. In Malaya we depleted our supply of Pipe Reeds and he went into the Jungle, found some suitable cane and proceeded to make some Reeds for the Band.
They turned out rather good the sound wasnt bad for a DIY Job.
( It was a number of years after joining the Guards I found out both brothers were ex QV. I remember thinking at the
time coming from the same School had'nt done me any favour's, although what I would have expected had I known
is any ones guess. Pipe Major John Roe didnt take any prisoners, so maybe just as well I was shall we say in the
dark. I found him to be Fair and Correct in his dealings with everyone in the Band, unless ofcourse you were
receiving the famous and dreaded Bunk Treatment. This was a one to one Tuition Session and it could go on for
weeks on end. It was mainly for those coming from the Piping School that were a wee bit behind with Tunes
required to Play in the Band. I think that was the only Fault I had with Curly at the Piping School, not keeping
abreast of both the 1st and the 2nd Bn Bands repertoire. Mind you it may have been too difficult to try and balance
between one and the other taking into account two factors. It was down to supply and demand which Bn you were
destined for. Each Band had differing repertoires. even the sets that were played for Dancing were vastly different
which I experienced once, and had a near disaster with. This was in America recording a Show for American
Television, good job it was a pre recorded show or I would have been locked up. Its a long story this one but one I
prefer to leave in the Past. Suffice to say we recorded again and it was an excellent broadcast.
When I joined the Band in London I was under the Tutelage of Cpl Tony Wilson ( Pipe Major Mull of Kintyre )
and was swiftly brought up to speed with the current repertoire. Tony was a hard Task Master and before long I
was Playing the regular Band Tunes. A Great Teacher an Excellent Player and was a Man of vast
Patience, had to be with young chancers like me.)
The reason I have given you this wee speel is a lead up to telling you that I have Ten Tunes Named after the Ten
Dormitories, and the reason for that is that the Dorm Names are no Longer used as they now use a House System.
They call it moving with the Times. I dont want to see the Auld Names disappear hence the Pipe Tunes. I cant right
now place them as Companies but will slot them around later and pair them as they should be.
Each Tunes has the Title ' The Boys From ........ '
