About the Association

Back in the late 1990s, a group of former Officer Cadets from the 1970s got together with the aim of holding a reunion. That developed into a reunion weekend and that was held in 2000. 

It started on a Friday evening with an informal get-together in the Officer Cadets’ Mess at the Roy Strathdee Building. There was much drinking, singing and conversations starting with, “Do you remember…..”.

On the following day, participants had a choice of tenpin bowling or go-karting then, in the evening, a black tie dinner was held at Crombie Halls. The University of Aberdeen was ‘persuaded’ to supply the table wine in return for access to the assembled venerable company, in the hope that some might become benefactors to the University. The success rate is unknown.

Post-dinner saw a return to the Unit, where even more drink was consumed, dancing to drummers and pipers was much enjoyed and a modest proportion of those remaining saw off a cooked breakfast.

On the Sunday morning, there was an opportunity to visit the Gordon Highlanders Museum, where a lively and robust talk from Lt. Gen. Sir Peter Graham ensured no-one followed their natural instinct to fall asleep.

A grand weekend – but what next? Suggestions waxed and waned, but eventually the formation of an Association won the day. The likely suspects from the 2000 reunion formed the core of the Committee and others were persuaded to join in.

As with most such organisations, the level of activity has varied, as has the level of interest in joining. 

At present (June 2018), plans are underway to bring in new members by introducing this website to improve communications, by enhancing our profile with members of the Unit at all levels, by encouraging today’s Officer Cadets to join the Association now and to organise events in (as well as not in!) Aberdeen to better meet the needs of a scattered audience.

Much more information about the Association is available to Members after Log In.