New Scots Regiment may be wearing cheap foreign tartan

[RockyR]

From page 6 (Bens & Glens & Heroes) of the new Summer 06 edition of Scottish Life Magazine (article not found online):

http://scottishlifemagazine.com/CurrentIssue.htm

(I had to re-type it from the magazine as I couldn't find it online... the article is complete but may contain a spelling or punctuation error or two)

New Scots Regiment may be wearing cheap foreign tartan:

Since few firms could produce woolen cloth to the high quality required, Robert Noble, a weaving company in the Scottish Borders, has made the tartan for the Scottish Regiments' cerimonial kilts for 150 years. But that may soon change. Last February, in an effort to cut costs, the ministery of Defense lowered quality standards for its new contract in order to attract bidders outside of the UK. Not surprisingly, the all but certain prospect of the Scots Regiment wearing low quality kilts from perhaps Pakistan or India has not gone down well. "The kilts are clearly going to be sub standard," said Jeremy Purvis, a member of Scottish Parliment for the borders. "Now there will be different cuts and shades on a parade and it will be an embarassment. The Cerimonial Scottish wear should absolutely be made in Scotland."

[ByDand]

Most repugnent! However, it is like our troops wearing berets made in China :confused:

[Bill]

Most repugnent! However, it is like our troops wearing berets made in China :confused:

China?!?!! of all the gall -- only congress!

Bill

[bubba]

Most repugnent! However, it is like our troops wearing berets made in China :confused:

Or taking the black beret away from the Rangers and giving it to everyone to make them feel better about themselves.

[davedove]

China?!?!! of all the gall -- only congress!

Bill

That's what happens when your biggest concern is cost.

[davedove]

Or taking the black beret away from the Rangers and giving it to everyone to make them feel better about themselves.

I got out shortly before this change came about. Apparently, some general thought it would improve morale, instead of working on real issues. The first thing it did was upset the Rangers, so they switched to a new color for them (tan). The beret is a pain to shape so that it looks right, and I see soldiers every day who still haven't got it right. The soldiers of course wear what they are told, but many, if not most, prefer the old BDU cap.

[highlandcelt]

Forgive the obvious ad-libbing here: Quoting Yoda from Sta Wars Episode 2: The Clone Wars in my best Yoda voice: "The Scots Regiment has lost their concern for top quality tartan uniformity; How embarrassing. How embarrassing."

[An t-Ileach]

...The first thing it did was upset the Rangers, so they switched to a new color for them (tan). The beret is a pain to shape so that it looks right, and I see soldiers every day who still haven't got it right...

Well they shouldn't be too disappointed, the tan beret is what the Special Air Service Regiment wears. Mind you, I can imagine the annoyance and upset: it's a bit like finding that the (Light Division's) Rifle Green beret had been adopted by the US Special Forces. As for beret shaping, that's an arcane art in itself best taught by a British Army drill pig.

And MOD's a penny pinching bunch of !!!s (except when it comes to paying civilian civil servants' final salary pensions): cost cutting was one of the reasons given for killing off the regiments in the first place, so now they can't even do the decent thing by the hybrid that they created - typical.

[Riverkilt]

Sad....just plain sad....

Ron

[Big Paul]

What a crying shame!!