John Gibson: It's time for the major to stand easy

Published on Tuesday 19 May 2009 09:01

MAJOR achievement. It's been a labour of love. And unwavering loyalty to the regiment.

Major Brian Leishman has edited The Covenanter, the Ist Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) magazine for 21 years, and the last and final edition is circulating now.

He was a serving soldier for 21 years, initially a Cameronian until their disbandment in 1968, when he transferred to the KOSBs. He retired voluntarily to become the Tattoo's business manager. For another 21 years, as it happened.

Says Major Brian: "Forty-one years on May 14 since the Cameronians disbanded, so the figures 21 and 41 are significant for me. Alas, I'll never be 21 again. Or 41. Believe me, I only feel 41." He's 73.

The Covenanter cost sixpence when first published in May 1921. This unmissable, last-of-the-line souvenir cost a fiver.

I refer crusty old Cameronians who'll find life intolerable with out their mag consult the website at www.cameronians.org. Now stand easy, Leishman.

Table toppers

Who was to know we were about to watch Hibernian all but play the opposition off the park in the first half? Anyway. the banter at painter/decorator businessman Willie "let's have some decorum" McEwan's pre-match table was, shall we say, brisk.

Relishing the Ribena on Thursday were East Lothian's MSP and Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray with shadow, doctor of spin and former Scotsman diarist Simon Pia, Brian "Scissorhands" Rafferty, ex-Hibernian keeper and agent Jim MacArthur and man about town Hamish Henderson.

Deek devotees, all sympathetic to the Hibee cause.

Afterwords . .

. . . here's Paul Newman, who ultimately lost it, justifying his retirement in 2007: "You start to lose your memory. Your start to lose your confidence. You start to lose your invention. I lose words a lot. I have a memory like a sieve."

Newman died at 83 last September – not from cramming all those hard-boiled eggs in Cool Hand Luke. Of lung cancer, rather. His signatory salad dressings and pasta sauces that made millions for charity are infinitely preferable to the poison in a new book viciously rubbishing him.