Never Better Served
Speaker Mr William Purdie
Never Better Served
Rotary Club of Prestwick speaker was Mr William Purdie, who spoke to his recent book "Never Better Served" an updated history of the Ayrshire Yeomanry , 1964 to 2018.
The presentation started with the story of the initial raising of the Yeomanry in 1798 under the Earl of Cassilis. The defence of the district was to be the main concern. Originally they were known as the Carrick Dragoons.
From 1964, Mr Purdie took his audience through the various changes. The Ayr Squadron had had an armoured delivery role and subsequently took on a pure reconnaissance role. Their last Centurion tank went in 1965.
From 1970,the Yeomanry's function moved to one of refueling army vehicles in the field. Mr Purdie then went on the describe vehicles that had been deployed by the Yeomanry over the years such as Ferret Scout Cars, Saladins and Sarscens.
Further Defence Reviews led to the Yeomanry becoming, firstly, part of Scottish Yeomanry, then the Queen's Own Yeomanry and, most recently, the Scottish and Northern Irish Yeomanry.
Mr Purdie completed his presentation by listing the battle honours of members of the Yeomanry and remembered colleagues lost in the recent past.
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Weekly Meetings
back This section details the weekly talks at the club and have ranged widely from mindfulness to charity work, health, model making, favourite objects, music and gardening.