The Opening of Home Lines at Thiepval Barracks Lisburn, Near Belfast, N.Ireland. 8th July 2010

On Thursday 8^th July 2010 40^th Regiment Royal Artillery had a Ceremonial parade to open their new Lines within the hundred year old Thiepval Barracks near Belfast. Costing some £40 Million it is a brilliant example of all that a modern Army base should be. Its occupants are the Lowland Gunners , more formally known as 40^th Regiment Royal Artillery who have the special distinction of being affiliated to the Home Clan and this allows them to wear the Home tartan. This dates back to an agreement reached with Lord Home of the Hirsel some 30 years ago.

They were particularly keen that the Earl of Home should be present at this naming ceremony but unfortunately due to earlier commitments neither Lord Home nor Dr Ian Maitland Hume could be present. It therefore fell to Gospatric Home the deputy convenor to represent the Earl of Home.

The parade took place on a magnificent parade ground looking over to the beautiful Mountains of Mourne, made famous by the song “the Mountains of Mourne look down to the sea”.

The pictures in the photos below tell the story more eloquently than any words. They show the Master Gunner, General Sir Timothy Granville –Chapman unveiling a plaque commemorating the occasion with Gospatric Home’s help. The plaque had been embedded into a huge piece of rock on the Parade ground covered with a plaid of Home Tartan.

It was a moving moment which marked more than anything else could have done the close relationship between The Lowland Gunners and Clan Home.

Other pictures show the parade inspection, a group photograph and more informal shots.

After the parade the many senior Army officers were given a tour of the barracks and met many members of the regiment. This was followed by a delicious lunch when Gospatric Home expressed his gratitude to the Commanding Officer for the wonderful hospitality extended. He made some play on the ongoing and seemingly never ending sagas involved in having a surname so simple that it is only one syllable and yet by virtue of its spelling causes so much confusion.

After lunch demonstrations, races and tus of war took place. Gospatric Home comments.”It was a real privilege to meet so many young and older veterans of the Iraq and Afhganistan campaigns and to do so in such friendly and hospitable circumstances. Morale was clearly very high and having an outstanding Barracks made this even more positive. I hope that we will soon be able to give hospitality to The Lowland Gunners even though our Barracks, Hume Castle are not on quite such a lavish scale!”