Cafe on a hard rock

I do hope that SNP supporters who have decided to object to the Redcoat Cafe at Edinburgh Castle, calling the name “tone deaf”, can be given a lesson in history. Scottish soldiers fought all over the world in such jackets and wore them with pride. Indeed, the oldest regiment in the British Army, nicknamed “Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguard”, is the Royal Scots, who have worn the red coat longer than any other regiment.

Scottish soldiers have worn the red coat all over the world. I suggest objectors watch the film Waterloo made in 1970 for some splendid aerial views of the squares of Highlanders (one of whom was an ancestor of mine), fighting off the French cavalry with great success. Such nationalists can have a drink at the Ensign Ewart pub on the High Street on their way to the Castle to protest. Ensign Ewart captured a French Eagle at the Battle of Waterloo. He was wearing a red coat and was a Scottish hero.

If nationalists, whose knowledge of history is usually suspect and extremely limited, wish to make a point about Culloden, please bring it on. The British Army (please note, British) at Culloden had proportionately more Scots than the present-day British Army. It included such regiments as The Royal Scots, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, The King’s Own Scottish Borderers and more. They wore the red coat with pride too. Calling the cafe The Redcoat Cafe is not "tone deaf ", whereas calling an extreme, left-wing party the Scottish National Party certainly is.

The name of the cafe must remain.

Andrew HN Gray

Edinburgh