The Fire Brigade Partnership with Stadt Plattling in Bavaria

INTRODUCTION
This Blog was started in 2008 when I wanted to publicise the fire brigade partnership between Bavaria and Scotland.  Over time this developed into information on my involvement in delivering humanitarian aid to the north east of Romania.  Now that I have "fully retired" I feel the need to record my very fortunate life, if not for posterity but for my family at least.  Fortunate in my childhood, fortunate in my wife and family and my good fortune to have had what I call 3 very fulfilling and interesting careers i.e. 12 years in the Royal Air Force, 30 years in the fire service and finally 5 years as the very first Fire Safety Manager/Adviser in the Scottish Parliament .
Bob Bertram

Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade/Freiwillige Feuerwehr Plattling
A social partnership between Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade Group9 (Galashiels, Selkirk, Lauder, Melrose, Headquarters/other stations, retired firefighters and supporters) and Freiwillige Feuerwehr Stadt Plattling (Bavaria). Now further developed to include Police, Selkirk Pipe-band and various other groups. A formal town twinning between the Bavarian town of Plattling and the Scottish Borders town of Selkirk has been another spin-off from this social partnership. But a wee bit of background history first ..........................................

Although his parents lived in the Midlothian village of Pathhead, Bob was born in 1946 at the Elsie Ingles Maternity Hospital, this in the registration district of the "Canongate"; where he was later to work at the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood.

(View of what was the Elsie Ingles Maternity Hospital, now a home for the elderly.)

Bob started his education at Pathhead Primary School, his father also attending there before him and has his grandson Lewis more recently.  Bob is the pupil on the far right, under the watchful eye of Mr Tulley the Headmaster (see below).  His Secondary education was undertaken at Dalkeith High School, when he had to travel by school bus and where he first met Brenda who was eventually to become his wife.

Bob played "Wee Willie Winkie" in the annual Pathhead

village pantomine in the late 1950's.  He is the one in the middle with the Top Hat.  Bob says "I didn't have a lot of lines to say, but I was on stage most of the performance and had to eat cold chips every night!"


THE START OF WEARING THE BLUE 
UNIFORM
During secondary education at Dalkeith High School Bob joined 1321 (1st Midlothian) Squadron of the Air Training Corps based at Eskbank Dalkeith. He attended weekly parades and other activities regularly; and was promoted to Cadet Corporal. Pictured are the Dalkeith cadets at Summer Camp RAF Ternhill in 1960/1. This obviously created an interest in the Royal Air Force and gave Bob his idea and plan for a future career; see below

1321 Squadron on parade Remembrance Day 1960.  Wee Bobby Bertram 3rd from right rear rank.  Note the "choker" style tunic (issued to newish recruits), but well shaped beret (I had an older brother in the army who showed me how to shrink and shape with cold and hot water!  I would have had to walk or cycle the 5/6 miles from my home village of Pathhead to Dalkeith for these parades - no buses!

1321 Squadron at Summer Camp 1960? Might be RAF Syerston.  Self not in photo - taking the photograph.

                                                       NOW TO THE REAL AIR FORCE (well Boys Service)

"Attestation papers on enlisting in the RAF 1961 aged 15"

(Bob says "my parents had to sign to let me go; wonder why they were so keen? Seeing me away on the night train from Waverley Station to RAF Cosford my dad was heard to say "He'll be back within the the week"; 12 years later I came back!"



(Bob as 16 year old Boy Entrant - home on leave about 1962)

Long before his connection with Bavaria, Bob originally joined the Royal Air Force as a "Boy Entrant" aged just over 15 years old. He signed up for 12 years as a Telegraphist (communications operator).

(Insert video)
Graduation day of 44th Entry at No. 2 School of Technical Training RAF Cosford (passing out as Leading Aircraftsman (LAC) recommended to Senior Aircraftsman (SAC) within 6 months of graduation; due to being under 17 unable to hold any adult rank, so by time of reaching age of 17, went straight to SAC (much to the chagrin of some of my older and more experienced colleagues - and the Station Warrant Officer the SWO!)

Official plaque of the 44th Entry Boy Entrants RAF Cosford 1961 - 1963

Initially training for 18 months at RAF Cosford near Wolverhampton, his first posting into the "man's service" was to RAF Church Fenton in Yorkshire, thereafter he specialised in "Signals Intelligence(SIGINT)"; (Bob says "some would call putting Signals and Intelligence together could be construed as an oxymoron!") and was posted in 1965 to RAF Butzweilerhof just outside the northern German city of Cologne. After a year in Cologne, he was posted down to the detachment located in the southern Bavarian town of Plattling. And so the story and  connection with the town of Plattling began; but more of that later .............................................................



(Bob just before posting to Germany in 1965)











Whilst at "Butz" his specialism of HF Radio Direction Finding found him eventually being transferred to an outpost near the Bavarian town of "Plattling"; see later in the Blog about this period of his RAF service and how this shaped things to come in later years.

Photograph of the Main Gate at RAF Butzweilerhof circa 1965





In 1968 Bob (now an RAF Junior Technician) married Brenda in St Mary's Church Pathhead. Some 40 years later, the couple live directly next door to the same church; with Brenda being the parish administrator looking after the church, the Priest's house and assisting the Priest within the parish.




After a period in RAF married quarters at RAF station Digby in Lincolnshire, Bob and Brenda along with their 7 week old daughter Patricia, flew out to Cyprus where they stayed in the town of Famagusta; Bob working with the Royal Signals as part to the RAF Element attached to the army's 9 Signals Regiment.  During this posting Bob was promoted to the rank of Corporal.  See below for a postcard showing the location of their first flat on the beach in Famagusta (marked with a cross at the far side of the bay).

Brenda and wee Patricia on the beach outside Famagusta flat in Cyprus

On return from Cyprus Bob and Brenda were again accomodated in married quarters at RAF Digby, until they decided that Bob was not going to seek re-engagement and would volunteer for a 9 month unaccompanied posting to Masirah Island off the coast of the Sultanate of Oman; Brenda returning home with Patricia until he returned in late 1972 prior to leaving the air force in February 1973, subsequently joining the fire brigade in Edinburgh.

1973
                                                           A NEW RECRUIT "AGAIN"!

Scottish Fire Brigade Training School 1973, recruit squad, Bob front row on extreme left


1977

In 1977 Bob was promoted to SubOfficer at the Brigade Training School in Edinburgh; and served as a Breathing Apparatus Instructor on "The Ship", where as well as fire brigade students, many Merchant Navy Officers and Cadets were training in ship-firefighting under very realistic conditions.

In 1979 he was transferred to the White Watch in Musselburgh as Watch Commander and is seen above attending a Road Traffic Accident with his crew.

Daughters Patricia and her wee sister Kathryn who was born whilst living in the town of Penicuik.

In 1977 was re-united with ex Colleagues Campbell Adamson & Ray Cunningham. The trio had travelled down to Cosford from Scotland in September 1961 as 15 year old and billetted together during their 18 month training at RAF Cosford as Telegraphists. During their service they had never again served together; but had made contact on occassion. On this day, the ex Boys paraded (in different uniforms - but similar colour raf blue shirts) to see Raymond (Bun) graduate as a Fireman with South Eastern Fire Brigade (south of Scotland) where Bob was already a Sub Officer and Campbell a Leading Fireman with the neighbouring Fife Fire Brigade.
NOTE
Raymond and Bob have now retired after many years service in the fire brigade, with Campbell sadly passing to the great Squadron and Fire Station in the sky - "Aye Mindit".

Campbell and Bob shared another interest for many years i.e. the Air Cadets; with Campbell as Squadron Commnader (FltLt) at Lochgelly in Fire and Bob similarly at Penicuik and Galashiels.

Bottom photo, Bob as an adult ATC Warrant Officer accompanying Scottish air cadets to RAF Cosford 1976; at his old Initial Training Squadron billet J9 -  top photo Bob standing in doorway on right with group of friends at J9 1961

Brenda and Bob "putting on a show" for old friends and neighbours Liz and Colin Donnachie during one of their visits to Penicuik Midlothian PS Bob is the one with the beard!!

Patricia as an Enroled Nurse in Edinburgh.

Kathryn graduating from Abertay University in Dundee

Kathryn with her son Lewis at her graduation as a Police Officer (Lothian and Borders) at the Scottish Police College Tulliallan.


THE HISTORY OF THE FIRE BRIGADE PARTNERSHIP - In 1965 a young airman (Royal Air Force) was posted from his home base of Butzweilerhof near Cologne in northern Germany, to a small radio outstation located just outside the southern Bavarian town of Plattling am Isar.
This was an unusual posting within the Royal Air Force, with 5 airman under the command of a Corporal, living and working within a small community some 400 miles from the nearest British military base, within the then "American Zone" of West Germany. In addition, it was not usual for RAF personnel to be accommodated in a hotel i.e. The Preysinghof Hotel and they were conspicuous when wearing their RAF uniforms (which was not very often) and driving around in their RAF mini during the summer, or a land-rover during the winter months.

Never the less, the "truppen" as they were affectionately known, were accepted into the life of this small town situated not many miles from both the Austrian and Czechoslovakian borders (the location giving some hint at the specialist cold-war activities of the group) and for many years various personnel passed through on this detachment.


Members of the detachment in Plattling (with Simba) c1966 The young airman who arrived a the town's banhof, alone and not a little apprehensive in 1965, was not to know that from this period of his life, was to spawn so many friendships and contacts between this small Bavarian town on the banks of the river Isar and his Scottish homeland, some 30 plus years later. Thus started the first contact between Bob Bertram and what was to become his "second home" Stadt Plattling.  Unfortunately after about 6 very interesting and special months, his time in Plattling (and of the others based there) came to a sad end; when a serious road traffic accident resulted in Bob spending 6 weeks in Plattling hospital and the subsequent closing down of the small radio station.

Article in the Plattlinger Anzeiger 1966

A memento from Bob's time spent in the town of Plattling (2.7DM being the cost of 4 Weise Biers at the time); and the start of his interest in quaffing Weissbier

29 Years Later

Article in the Berwickshire News prior to Bob's first aid trip to Romania in 1994

During 1993/94 The Sunday Post newspaper ran a competition for "your personal Everest" ie personal ambitionl; this to mark the 50th anniversary of the scaling of Mt Everest in Nepal by Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tensing.  Bob entered the competition by making his ambition "to send at least 50 fire extinguishers to Romania for hospitals and childrens homes".  Much his and Brenda's surprise this won first prize and a 13 day all expenses paid holiday to India and Nepal was the result.  Seen above are Bob and Brenda preparing to board an Everest Air plane for a sightseeing trip around the Everest basin.

In August 1994 Bob was travelling overland with a colleague Robin Black, on a humanitarian aid trip to deliver much needed food to Bosnian refugees who had escaped the fighting and devastation in Bosnia, to seek refuge in Croatia. Bob and Robin were delivering food on behalf of a small locally based Scottish Borders aid group called "Borders to Bosnia". Late one evening, whilst crossing the border between Germany and Austria, Bob realised that not too many miles distant was the town of Plattling where he had spent an unforgettable 6 months when serving as a young man in the Royal Air Force. As Bob and Robin were planning another aid trip later that year, this time to Romania under the auspices of the "Scottish Borders Romanian Podriga Appeal", they agreed they would investigate the possibility of using Plattling as a stop-over whilst on route from Scotland to Romania; Plattling being just off the main autobahn which was already part of their planned route later in the year.
After a long and arduous trip to Croatia, Bob and Robin returned to Scotland and commenced preparations for their forthcoming overland aid trip to Romania - this time to deliver much needed aid to an adult psychiatric hospital (Podriga) and a children's home (Ionaseni) in the north eastern part of Romania, in addition fire fighting uniforms were also to be delivered to the local fire brigade in this region.

To learn more about the Scottish Borders Romanian Podriga Appeal, please see the link below:-
http://scotbordersromania.blogspot.com/

1994
During this planning stage, Bob remembered an article which had been published in the local newspaper in Plattling which had detailed the unfortunate car accident that had resulted in Bob spending some 6 weeks in the local hospital, injuries to other RAF personnel and the premature closure of the small radio station in Plattling. On writing to the editor of the newspaper, Bob received a reply from local reporter Doris Kleifoth of the PLATTLINGER ANZEIGER who agreed to Bob's request to contact the local fire brigade (Bob now serving with Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade based in the Scottish Borders), with a view to obtaining support whilst travelling on-route to Romania. As history will subsequently evidence, the efforts of Doris (seen on the right with Robin during a social event in the Plattling fire station) and the local Plattlinger fire-fighters resulted in not only Bob and Robin being hosted in Frankfurt and in Plattling, but also on the return journey from Romania after succesffully delivering much needed aid to the Podriga hospital and Ionaseni children's home - but was also the start of what was to become a lasting and fruitful contact between Bavaria and Scotland.
Gifts are exchanged; pictured are Robin, Bob and "Zweiter Burgermeister of Stadt Plattling Eduard Berger.

Top: Bob and Andrew (scottish aid volunteer) presenting fire extinguishers to the local Mayor near Podriga in Romania. Bottom: with Robin Black presenting plaque to rural fire brigade volunteers in the area 1994.

1997
During Bob's regular trips to Romania, one of his most supportive contacts has been local newspaper reporter Doris Kleifoth who has made all the arrangements in Plattling and acted as the coordinator for the group in Bavaria. Doris, who had visited Scotland before and fell in love with the country, had an ambition, which she shared with Bob at a bag-piper should visit Plattling". With Bob already having ambitions to form a fire brigade partnership, he discussed these ideas with John Munro, SubOfficer at Selkirk Fire Station and a member of the Selkirk Pipe-Band. So it was then, that in July 1997, not just a piper, but a full band of pipes and drums travelled to Plattling as guests of the town during their Stadt Fest. As a thank you to Bob for making the initial contacts, he was invited to travel with the group. Doris of course, was very satisfied that her ambition had actually come to fruition, but owned up to being a little nervous as she waited with Bob, the Burgermeister and other members of the town council outside the Rathaus. It is to the credit of the Selkirk Pipe-band that within an hour of arriving in the town, after the journey from Scotland, they marched through the town square, exactly as scheduled in full regalia. After an official welcome in the town hall, the band were hosted by the local fire brigade, where more music,both Scottish and Bavarian was enjoyed. During the next day, the band were the toast of the town and in much demand during the town festival.

Marching down the Main Street of Plattling within an hour of arriving from Scotland - the very first time a Pipe-band has marched and played in Plattling 






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 Doris's dream.(Doris, Bob and Second Burgermeister Michael Widerer) waiting for the pipe-band

It was during this visit that Bob Bertram and John Munro had serious discussions with the fire brigade Kommandant Gunter Fuchs and President Werner Dischinger, about a formal partnership between the two brigades.

1998
And so it was that in March 1998 12 Lothian and Borders firefighters left Edinburgh heading for the Bavarian town of Plattling. The Group9 (Galashiels, Selkirk & Melrose) personnel, led by their station commander Bob Bertram, carried full firefighting uniforms, dress fire brigade uniforms and full highland rigs, thus fully prepared for the many events and activities they were to experience in Plattling. As well as doing fire brigade things, the group undertook the pleasant and necessary public relations activities such as meeting the Burgermeister Siegfried Scholz, as well as many formal and very informal social events. This sealed the plans for forming a social partnership betweeen the two brigades and a formal signing of the partnership was arranged for August 1998 during a return visit by the Bavarian firefighters to the Scottish Borders.

Signing of Fire Brigade Partnership in Melrose 1998 - left to right; Dick Laidlaw (Galashiels Wholetime), Mike Christie (Galashiels Retained), Frank Preston (Melrose Retained), Werner Dischinger and Gunther Fuchs (Ffw Plattling), Bob Bertram (Area Commander/"Grandfather of the Partnership"), John Munro (Selkirk Retained).



This partnership has now grown like topsy and includes Lothian and Borders Police Officers and many others (making contact with their counterparts in Plattling). In addition, other groups have made visits backwards and forwards and include schools, music groups, sports groups and family visits.

1997

In 1997 Bob was honoured in Her Majesty The Queen's Birthday Honours List, being made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace, accompanied by wife Brenda and daughters Patricia & Kathryn; "for services to the fire service & humanitarian aid in Romania.

Bob receiving his MBE from HM Queen at Buckingham Palace in 1997

1998

In 1998 a group of Plattling firefighters and their families visited Scotland and during their stay, visited (the now defunct) Colour Box (miniature models) factory in Lauder which was famous for Blaze Bear who was adopted as a mascot of the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund.

1999

During this visit to Plattling, a parade at the fire-house and through the town (supported by Selkirk Pipe-Band) was held to mark the hand-over as Station Commander of Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade Group 9 between Bob Bertram and Tom Munro.

2000
In November 2000, Bob and his wife Brenda made a private visit to Plattling, this was Brenda's first visit and gave Bob an opportunity to introduce her to his many friends and supporters in the Bavarian town. This visit also gave Bob and opportunity to pass on best wishes to the Burgermeister and the town from both the Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade Group 9 Partnership and the Selkirk Town Twinning Association.

Seen in the background, Bob was a manager for the Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade team that presented its Museum display to HM Queen during a visit to Edinburgh in 2000.

2001
To mark the 30th anniversary of the 44th Entry RAF Boy Entrant Telegraphist enlisting at RAF Cosford in 1961; Bob organised the first of many annual reunions of the "ex Brats", the first one being held in the George Hotel Leeds

1st reunion of 44th Entry Boy Entrant Telegraphists (in Leeds 2001) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their joining the RAF, Bob is front row 2nd from right

2003 "Kreisfeuerwehrtag"
In June 2003 the Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade/Police partnership were invited to Plattling to take part in a huge international fire brigade festival in the town. The festival culminated in a street procession/parade involving 1000 firefighters and the Scottish contingent honoured the town and its fire brigade by parading in national dress, bag-pipes playing and carrying the Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade standard. In return, the town council flew the brigade flag at the town hall throughout the weekend.
On leaving the Royal Air Force in 1973, Bob joined South Eastern Fire Brigade in Edinburgh, retiring as a Divisional Officer in 2004.

Retiral Certificate from Lothiand and Borders Fire Board 2004

Scottish Firefighters and Police officers at Plattling civic reception; along with other town twinning representatives from Nebra in eastern Germany.











2002 (September)

During this visit the Scottish contingent of firefighters and police officers were invited to a special ceremony in the fire-house; to observe the consecration of a new fire appliance by Chaplain Stephan Forster and Father Dirk Hartleben. During the evenings festivities Bob Bertram and John Munro were most surprised, shocked, touched and proud to be presented with the "Medal for international partnership working", the medal being awarded by The German Federation of Fire Brigades and presented by the member of the Bavarian Parliament Christian Berleiter and Plattling Burgermeister Erich Schmid.

Bob's German fire brigade medal

2004

During the visit to Plattling in April 2004, Bob was made an "Ehrenmitglied der Freiwilligen Feuerwehr Plattling" (Honorary firefighter) by Kommandant Christian Rohrmeier and Vorstand Steffen Buscke. This was a particular honour for Bob as this was the first time a "foreigner" had been honoured in this way; and timely as Bob had just retired after 30 years with the fire service (and now Fire Safety Manager at the new Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh). Another honour was bestowed on the Scots when John Munro, the Officer in Charge of Selkirk fire station and a long-standing supporter/organiser of the fire brigade partnership, town twinning and Selkirk pipe-band involvement; was also made an honorary firefighter of the Plattling fire brigade.



John Munro receiving his surprise honour during the visit to Plattling in May 2008

GENERAL
The Fire Brigade Partnership formally established in 1998 has spawned other contacts between the Scottish Borders towns of Selkirk, Galashiels and Melrose. These contacts include a formal twinning arrangement between the towns of Selkirk and Plattling, Police Partnership, Music groups, school groups, sporting groups and many private exchange visits and friendships. The full story of how this contact came about is currently being entered into this site and will be updated regularly. A new web-site has been created and is shared between the Lothian and Borders Police / Fire Brigade and others involved in the continuing partnership between the Bavarian town of Plattling, the Borders town of Selkirk and other friendships/partnerships. See
http://www.neverdrinkalone.org/


On completion of his service with the Royal Air Force Bob joined South Eastern Fire Brigade (now Lothian and Borders) in 1973 as a Fireman commencing service in the city of Edinburgh. Moving through the ranks in various posts, including 3 years as a Senior Instructor/Course Director at the Scottish Fire Service Training School in Gullane East Lothian; as well as recruit training, specialising in Breathing Apparatus instruction. 

Bob, back row 4th from the left as Senior Instructor/Course Director

Bob retired after 30 years service as Divisional Officer Grade II, Functional Manager of the brigade's Community Safety Group; retiring on 24 January 2004. Bob's medals include:

* Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

* Queen's Jubilee Medal.

* Fire Service Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.

* Cadet Forces Medal.

* Medal for International Partnership Working (awarded by the German Federation of Fire Brigades).










Bob in fire gear as Divisional Officer just prior to retiral from Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade in January 2004.


From 1975 until 1995 Bob was involved with the Air Cadet organisation (Air Training Corps) serving as an Adult Civilian Instructor, Warrant Officer and eventually commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) Branch. He served at Penicuik and Galashiels Squadrons, in both cases as Squadron Commander.



Pictured as a Flight Lieutenant at RAF Turnhouse in 1985, Bob receives the Cadet Forces Medal from the Air Officer Commanding Air Cadets; also pictured being congratulated by colleagues



Pictured in 1995 on retiral from uniformed service with the Air Cadets, Bob is hosted by 869 (Penicuik) Squadron cadets and new Squadron Commander FltLt Frank Morris.









Since leaving the RAF in 1974 Bob has been a member of the Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA); and has carried out Welfare casework for the Scottish Area of RAFA for some years. Since 2008 he held the posts of Honorary Branch Welfare Officer and Branch Vice Chairman and is pictured prior to laying a RAFA wreath in November 2007. In 2012 Bob handed over his responsibilitis as Branch Welfare Officer to George Prentice who as it happens joined the RAF at the same time as Bob and trained with him as  a RAF Boy Entrant   Bob has undertaken advanced training as an accreditated RAFA Caseworker and will continue to make himself available for more involved welfare cases in support of the Scottish Area HQ and other Branches in Scotland if requested. Pictured below are the first 4 Scottish RAFA Caseworkers who attended a Level2 course at Birmingham University in June 2008; the 4 jocks called themselves "the 4 Tonners". See below; left to right - Jim Gannon, Iain Brown, Bob; Gordon Millar.

Receiving his accreditated RAFA Caseworker Certificate from the Association's Secretary General (one of the first to qualify & one of the first 4 Caseworkers in Scotland

One week after retiring from the fire service in January 2004, Bob took up the newly established post of Fire Safety Project Manager for the new Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh; with the post developing over the first five years of occupation; Bob finally retired as Fire Safety Adviser to the Parliament on 1 July 2009.

A full staff photograph in the Scottish Parliament about 2007 (Bob hidden somewhere in the back row underneath the balcony)

Copy of 2008 programme for the 2008 Scottish Parliament annual Burns Supper

As well as his committments to the RAF Association:
* Has previously held voluntary public appointments as Chairman of the Scottish Borders Children's Panel, Chairman of Midlothian Children's Panel Advisory Committee and as Independant Chair of Midlothian Social Work Complaints Review Panel and more recently as a Lay Member on the Justices of Peace Advisory Committee for the Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders (stepping down in May 2012).  He still provides independant advice to the Midlothian area of The Children's Hearing System and the Social Work Complaints panels of East Lothian and West Lothian under Scottish social work complaints regulations. Also External Chair of the Pathhead Music Collective (see later in blog); and spokesman for the Pathhead Road Safety Action Group.

Other interests include:-
* Family tree research.
* Amateur Radio licence holder callsign 2M0KLL (previously MM3LWJ)
*  Wee bit of digital photography
*  Now taking an interest in amateur astronomy
* As much time as possible with wife Brenda at holiday home near Dunoon in Argyll.
*  Wee bit of sea loch fishing when away in Argyll

Article by grandson Lewis (with a wee bit of help from Grandad!) published in the Scotland on Sunday newspaper 2009

UPDATE 2012
Having previously served as an Area Councillor on the Area Council of RAFA "Scotland and Northern Ireland Area" (stepping down in 2011), Bob was directly elected as a Trustee of the Royal Air Forces Association (Central Council) in 2010 and stood down from this national Trustee role late 2013.  He now hopes to give more time to his local Branch "Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders" in the role of Vice Chairman.

It was with great sadness that Bob and Brenda said goodbye to their dear old companion "Candy" who finally fell asleep aged 18 years.  Pictured below is Candy:

And our old Goldie who passed in 2013 aged 16 years.

The Bertram household is not without its Doggy visitors though and Bed & Breakfast & Walkies are available i.e.

A friend's canny auld dug Sam

Then oor wee Luna Elston from Kirkcaldy

Followed by oor very laid back Max Young from Livingston

Brenda with other "founder members" of the Pathhead Community Cafe 

BRENDA'S ? BIRTHDAY

To celebrate Brenda's 65th birthday on 2 June 2012; the family managed to surprise Brenda with a wonderful community celebration.  Members of the family, old friends and new gathered to pay tribute to her obvious "weel kent" place in Pathhead.  This event was enhanced by the entertainment (musical and other) provided by our friends and neighbours who are professional musicians (The Pathhead Music Collective).  Inge Thomson a well known musician penned this music in recognition of Brenda's committment to the St Mary's Church in Patthead, including the eucumenical between the RC Parish and the local Church of Scotland Parish.  As well as being known (according to Bob) as the "Dug Lady", the "High Priestess of Pathhead" was composed by Inge in Brenda's honour.

Brenda with her mum and dad in Auchenblae Kincardinshire (near Laurencekirk)

Brenda at Primary School in Dalkeith

UPDATE MARCH 2013
Bob and Brenda had to cancel their planned visit to the Bavarian town of Plattling for their Stadt Fest (Town Festival) in July 2013, however; Bob travelled with firefighters/police from our Partnership for the Plattling Fire Brigade's 150th anniversary in September 2013 and paraded with many other fire brigades (Bavarian and Austrian), with Bob being asked to contribute to the 150th Anniversary Book which of course he was pleased to do.

UPDATE APRIL 2013
Bob is pleased and honoured to have been asked to be "External Chairman" for the award winning "Pathhead Music Collective".

WE ARE THRILLED AND DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE PATHHEAD MUSIC COLLECTIVE (PMC) HAS BEEN AWARDED THE CREATIVE PLACE AWARD FOR COMMUNITIES OF UNDER 2,500.

The PMC have been awarded £50,000 to fulfil the following objectives during 2013:

Enhance, develop and increase the community and education strand of the work that the PMC already does in the local area (activities we currently run include The Pathhead Choir, The Pathhead Fiddlers, community band Kaboodle, The Wee Song House, PMC Scholarship Fund for young musicians, one-to-one music tuition, children’s holiday music workshops, weekend adult music workshops, fund-raising concerts and family ceilidhs).

Increase the number of concerts we run in the area and also run three one-day specialist and general music festivals.

Enable PMC members to collaborate on creating new music.

Provide administrative and marketing support for all the PMC activities, and initiate fund-raising to enable the PMC activities to be sustainable in the future.

To help Pathhead grow into an internationally recognised centre of musical excellence fully engaged with our rural community.

We are also very much looking forward to working with our local businesses and community organisations including the Pathhead and District Community Association, Pathhead Youth Project and Tynewater Community Development Project to name but a few.

The Pathhead Music Collective members are Jenny Gardner, Inge Thomson, Martin Green, Karine Polwart, Mattie Foulds, Nigel Richard, Sophie Bancroft, Tom Lyne, Andy Stentiford, Althea Stentiford, Amy Geddes, Corrina Hewat, Dave Milligan, Tom Bancroft and Gina Rae.

For further information see link below:
http://pathheadmusiccollective.org.uk

UPDATE JUNE 2013

Weekend visit to York in June 2013: walking the City Wall with the Minster behind.

Brenda shopping in "The Shambles" in York

View of our hotel in York as we passed on river excursion.

On way home from York, Bob & Brenda visited Bob's first RAF posting "in the man's service" ie RAF Church Fenton near York about 1963.  Although in the process of closing down; Bob got permission to have this photo taken at the main gate of the base. Was also given a show-round of the old Station HQ - not somewhere he frequented very often at that stage of his RAF career:

                                                      SUMMER 2013 (and a good one too!)

The Elston family in Kirkcaldy: Liam with wee Luna, Tricia, Ian and Kieran

BBQ with the family in Murieston (Livingston): Lewis, Scott, Kathryn, Brenda and Max hiding under the table 

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2013

Early morning fire brigade anniversary breakfast - Yum!  See Hildegard Dischinger keeping an eye on us at the back!  Werner sitting at the table just above my baldy head! I stayed with Werner & Hildegard (as I always do); as did Brenda and Liz & Colin 2 weeks later.  Their house "51 Grunau" a second home now!

Burgermeister Erich Schmid and wife Karola on parade later in the day.  Karola was "Die Festmutter" - The Mother of the Festival.

The Jocks on parade; no kilts this time!

The Festival Beer Tent

Bob giving his Quaich presentation speech, sharing the golden nectar of course!

The Jocks at their best

                                                           NOW HOME

The Plattling Fire Brigade Anniversary banner being hoisted in Pathhead!!
                                                            2 weeks later
Two weeks later Bob returned to Plattling, this time with Brenda and two friends from Ayrshire Liz and Colin Donnachie.  This private visit was very special and the hospitality "overwhelming".


         Brenda with Plattling Burgermeister Erich Schmid and his wife Karola; taking during an outing at the point where the river Isar (which flows through Plattling) meet the "Donau" ie Danube.

Colin from Stewarton taking photos of Brenda and friends "Gunter & Cristel Fuchs, Hildegard Dischinger (husband Werner hiding!) and Colin's wife Liz.  Photo taken during visit to county town of Deggendorf.

Werner and Hildegard Dischinger with Cristel Fuchs and Brenda admiring a lovely old church in Deggendorf

Slightly blurred image of very hospitable lunch in the Bayerische Wald (Bavarian Forest) house of Werner & Hildegards family.

Out in the Bavarian Forest hunting for mushrooms.

Burgermeister Schmid serving a special Bavarian lunch dish in a Restaurant in the Bayerische Wald.  Oor Colin taking the photo.
                                                                             Earlier in 2013
Bob managed to talk Brenda into a new camera for his birthday in February; shown below are some of his early attempts at photography.

A winters view of Pathhead in January 2013.

A bright, but chilly day looking down the "Tyne Valley" from the "Lothian Bridge" just outside Pathhead.

Argyll during 2013

Ardentinny, one of our favourite spots on Loch Long

A wee rest during a favourite forest/hill walk above The Holy Loch

                                       The Award Winning Walled Garden at Ardentinny

Bob and Brenda were pleased to sponsor this beautiful re-built walled garden (also featured on ); a donated fire safety & health and safety risk assessment plus the necessary fire safety equipment required.

Another favourite walk through the hills between Loch Long and Loch Eck

Looking over from the Cowal Penisula (near Dunoon) to Rothsay on The Isle of Bute, with the Isle of Arran showing at the back

Looking up from Ardentinny towards the snow capped Ben Lomond and surrounding mountains

A view from the Isle of Bute over to Isle of Arran:  Not very often you will see Bob and Brenda together in a photo!

At Home later in the year 2013

A very convivial evening meal out with friends Gigi's in Bonnyrigg; from the left Bob, Linda Pryde, Helen Angus, Peter Angus, Norman Pryde and Brenda

(Blog to be continued - Bob says "I hope")

A MESSAGE FOR ALL FRIENDS
“Tho the Northern Wind blaws freezin;
Frienship warms baith you and me”

ANOTHER MESSAGE 

(blog in process of updating)

In the meantime and during this Covid-19 pandemic

Stay safe, Stay well and Stay sane