'Perth Salute' returns to Perth city

07 August 2023

The 'Perth Salute' on Sunday 6 August was the culmination of a week of fantastic events in Perth and Kinross, including the Gran Fondo, part of the UCI World Championships and The Perth Show.

As well as parades, displays and live music, the salute also saw curling gold medallists team member Eve Muirhead and Grand National winning trainers Lucinda Russell OBE and Peter Scudamore MBE presented with the Freedom of the City.

A parade treated spectators to a blend of military and civilian bands from Perthshire Brass Band, Youth Brass Band, City of Discovery Pipe Band, Methil Pipe Band, Alyth Pipe Band, and Army Cadets, marching through the city to the North Inch fields.

Alongside these wonderful bands, the parade also featured a display of horses, High Constables, Scottish Military Vehicles, and a cavalcade of music and dance from local groups, Letham Majorettes, Julie Young Dance, the popular Beats of Brazil, Macumba, McAndrews Sisters and other top performers.

A tattoo style event in the arena then followed, showcasing a fantastic display of military bands, massed pipes and drums, Shetland Fiddlers, Rock Choir, Mela 2023 and more, captivating spectators in the arena.

Amongst the Salute Fringe stalls, the Perth and Kinross Branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, had a very busy and well visited stall next to 7 SCOTS - the local Reserves Battalion .

SSAFA Branch Patron, the Provost of Perth and Kinross, Xander McDade said: “The City of Perth Salute is a wonderful highlight in our events calendar and I was privileged to award the Freedom of the City accolade to Eve Muirhead and her Team GB Olympic curling team, alongside Lucinda Russell OBE and Peter Scudamore MBE. The City of Perth Salute was another amazing August afternoon for everyone to enjoy, in our historic and beautiful Perth City.”

The SSAFA stand attracted young and old all afternoon, and included lots of old military and civilian friends, clients, our AF Champion, Baillie Chris Ahern, volunteers and uniformed (young and fit!) members of 7 SCOTS, who helped with our display tentage and admin - big thanks to them.

Branch Chairman, Andy Middlemiss said: “It was a great event, really well attended and laid on, and it was our pleasure to showcase SSAFA to a wide and varied crowd of Perth Salute event goers. Thank you to our fabulous, fun, committed team of volunteers and the 7 SCOTS soldiers for their support and help - nothing is ever too much trouble for them to back us up. I think they feel they might need us one day!”