The Royal Tournament & Uncle Albert

Timbo · October 24, 2014

A fantastic spectacle of skill, bravery and a chance to revel in the excellence of our armed forces...of course the Royal Navy always put on the best show, but then I'm biased...but I really, really miss the Royal Tournament. It was something I would always watch on TV without fail, and then Uncle Albert out group Scout Leader organised for our Scout Troop, complete with two of our cub packs, to attend.

I was called back from an archaeological dig, in Israel I think...could have been Bahrain, it was hot anyway...on some family emergency only to discover Uncle Albert needed me and my leaders warrant for the trip down to Earls Court. I didn't mind, I was more excited than the kids. The train journey down was very noisy...not the kids, we had a carriage full of Geordies ringing folks they vaguely knew to tell them they were going to London. The train was late arriving in London and we had to quickly swap to the tube where we encountered our first problem. Of the sixty or so kids we had with us about twenty decided they were now travel sick and hurled on the tube train. Fortunately two of the parents accompanying us volunteered to stay and clean up, but its the first time I've ever ridden in a tube carriage devoid of Londoners.

Off the tube and heading for Earls Court we started to encounter military personnel in uniform. The kids were getting excited...so much so that one of the cubs came across a mannequin dressed in combats and kicked seven bells out of it before Uncle Albert collared him. Uncle Albert kept the lad by his side from then on. Once inside Earls Court we got to our seats with around ten minutes to spare. The young combat veteran Uncle Albert had collared was looking a little green when we took our seats. He peered over the seat in front whose occupant's head was on a level with the young lads toes. Uncle Albert got the lad to sit back...but he was now looking really green. My Mum, our Venture Scout Leader, spotted the lad and and called to Uncle Albert just as the young lad was sick. Quick as a flash Uncle Albert dived across and spread his hands to catch the vomit which was at that point approaching the speed of sound. Just in time Uncle Albert made the save...only for the liquid to spray in a vast arc over the crowd below us. It went every where! A chief petty officer saw the incident, and laughed as he escorted us to new seats while his ratings cleaned our old ones. From our new seats...much better ones we could also see some prominent Tory politicians, but the poor lad was unable to replicate his earlier spectacle...much to my chagrin.

I do wish they would bring back the Royal Tournament, I know they tried again but could not make a profit. In my view who cares about profit...it was fantastic to see!

TrevorAndDeirdre · October 25, 2014

Yes this was a great time for all. I was looking at some of the programes I collected over the years only the other day. As you say the navy years the best but all were good, so much to see. A shame when it stopped. I have the DVD of the final performance. I even got hold of one of the tea shirts of the field gun crew of the last run from a friend of mine.

Trevor and Deirdre

SteveO · November 1, 2014

Well there I was sitting and minding my own business when I felt the warm rain the back of my neck. Funny thing is that it wasn't raining and my coat has not smelled the same since.

:shocked

Steve

BroadAmbition · November 2, 2014

I was last at the Royal Tournament in '77 as part of the Royal Guard, that year provided by the Royal Navy of course, Marched into the main arena with the Royal Marine band. The Queen decided to step down onto the sawdust and inspect us after we had formed two deep and performed the Royal salute with our SLR's (This was not set in stone but we were told it might happen) and the good Lady stopped and spoke to me, I was just 17 at the time, that was the first time I met and spoke with our Queen (I got to meet her a second time at Holyrood House in the early 90's)

After our performance we had been reserved seats above the Royal box. Fantastic evening. We remained in full guard No1's of course (Now minus the SLR's) I got more young ladies telephone numbers / addresses in that one evening than I ever did in my remaining years in service cheersbar

I often watched the tournament on TV an miss it too

Griff

Brian J. · November 2, 2014

Not Royal Tournament but still relevant to the Queen.

Back in the early 1960's I was a photographer in the fleet air arm and was sent to cover the queen presenting the prizes and meet and greet foreign competitors at the international shooting competitions at Bisley.

As you can imagine, all the worlds paparazzi were there vying for the best positions for that one scoop shot. As I was in the middle of this lot - in full number ones - her maj muust have noticed me, and for the remainder of the day, whenever she spotted me trying to get position, she actually without saying anything, positioned herself and the foreign competitor so that I had a clear view and a good shot.

What a lady!!!