EXERCISE EDINBURGH LEARNING 2014 – 40(NIH) SIGNAL SQUADRON

Edinburgh Learning was an event where members of 40 (NIH) Sig Sqn visited the capital of Scotland to conduct training in the form of a practical navigation exercise. The exercise was organised to coincide with the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (shame to waste such an opportunity). All ticket money proceeds from the Tattoo went to Army charities so we were also supporting a good cause.

Transport to the ferry terminal left Clonaver Park Centre at 0600hrs on the Friday morning so an early start, especially for those based in Caw Camp, Londonderry. A smooth crossing of the Irish Sea to Cairnryan was followed by a 3 hour bus ride to Edinburgh. Arriving at 51 Sig Sqn’s Lanark Road location, the accommodation was allocated and everyone was briefed on the exercise – including the issuing of tickets to the Tattoo. Teams then hunkered down round Edinburgh street maps with the task sheet to plan out routes for the navigation part of the competition which was to take place on the Saturday.

On the Friday night we made our way to Edinburgh Castle to watch the Tattoo. Arriving at the castle the squadron witnessed a fantastic show of music and dance from The Massed Pipes and Drums, The Royal Marine Band, the Ngobamakhosi Zulu Dance Troupe, the Band of The Armed Forces of Malta, the New Zealand Kapa Haka Dancers and the Tattoo Highland Dancers and many others. Luckily the weather held off and this great evening was followed by a pint down in the ‘Old Town’. This was the first visit to the Tattoo by several members of the squadron and all thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.

Saturday kicked off with a morning of classroom work, the SNCO’s were lectured on writing reports with the remaining soldiers given lessons on equipment care. Everyone then departed to the city as the first part of the day’s activities was a squadron photograph at the Castle. Teams then dispersed on their chosen route.

The task sheet was in the form of cryptic questions where photographic answers had to be obtained, for example getting a picture of the team with ‘Dolly’ who turned out to be the cloned sheep now on display in the Museum of Scotland and finding the ‘Heart of Midlothian’. 

Several of the questions did result in the visiting of ‘watering holes’ such as Greyfriars Bobbys Bar. One question was to find the price of a certain bottle of 22 year old Glenmorangie with bonus points for buying a bottle; I was sorely tempted but decided that my wife would not be too happy if I spent £1570 on one bottle of whisky.
Each team spent the whole afternoon negotiating the crowds of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – the atmosphere and the ‘craic’ was great.

All teams then downloaded their pictures for scoring and a special mention to the REME team on their fine efforts on submitting a total of Nil, (Zero, Diddly Squat) pictures due to their inability to operate a camera.

The squadron 2IC presented the winning team with their trophy and we all shared our stories about the day’s activities and experiences.  A great time was had by all on a brilliant morale boosting trip.