Let's celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with musical events across the country
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COLUMN: Stone's Throw by Jamie Stone
I took up learning the violin at Tain Royal Academy to avoid having to play football. I was so rubbish that when the two best footballers in the class chose their teams alternately, I was always the last to be chosen. But this is not about me, it’s about music, and I’d like to start with my three children.
A generation later, the three of them played in the same school’s traditional music group called Gizzen Briggs. I might choose to say that they played their fiddles with varying degrees of aptitude. But one more step down that road might induce a certain family difficulty. So enough of that.
Gizzen Briggs were then, and are today, a marvel to hear. Their renditions of Scottish jigs, reels, slow airs, and more modern compositions have stopped me in my tracks on more than one occasion. I am intensely proud of these youngsters and their ability.
Why do I mention Gizzen Briggs? Because of the building of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
I had a pretty rough time when I was on the committee that oversaw the construction. Every time the cost went up, which it did again and again, I got it in the neck. Indeed, it could be said that it nearly lost me my seat in my second Scottish Parliament election.
When it was eventually finished and plans were being made for the Queen to come and open it, I loudly declared that it was payback time and that I wanted Gizzen Briggs to be invited down from Tain Royal Academy to play for Her Majesty on the big day.
What a crowd it was! As I carefully made my way through the throng, I suddenly heard the distant strains of Gizzen Briggs playing. My gosh, there they were! And there was the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh standing beside them, listening. Impulsively, I lurched forward.
“Not so fast, sir - where do you think you’re going?” And with that, I was pinioned by two officers of the royal protection squad. By the time I had explained to them who I was, and they let me go, the Queen had moved on. When I got to Gizzen Briggs, they were chattering with excitement and told me that the Queen had spoken to them and asked them what they had been playing. It was Leaving Stoer, one of the most beautiful slow airs of them all.
I thought of this a few days ago when, during Northern Ireland questions, I asked about how we might shortly celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
“There is a tremendous link between Scotland and Northern Ireland through music. The Kiltearn Fiddlers from my constituency have previously played in Northern Ireland as the guests of Ulster University. Would it not be splendid if we could celebrate Her Majesty’s jubilee by having musical events the length and breadth of our United Kingdom?”
To which the Minister responded, “I totally agree, and what a wonderful, harmonious note on which to end Northern Ireland questions.”
That wasn’t all. As I walked through the Member’s Lobby, the Minister, Conor Burns, stopped me and told me that he really liked the suggestion and would like to see it happen.
Conor Burns is one of those closest to Boris Johnson - so I do wonder what might happen. If we do end up with our youngsters all over the UK performing for the Queen, then you did at least hear it first from me.
Jamie Stone is the MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
