Published:
A Heriot-Watt student and alumnus has been installed as Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
Major General Mike Riddell-Webster, the Army’s highest ranking Army Reservist, graduated from Heriot-Watt in 1982 with a BSc in General Science and is also currently a postgraduate student at the University, studying for an MSc in Energy.
I am very honoured to be installed in such a historic appointment as The Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
The former regular Army Officer, who joined the reserves after retiring from the Army at the end of 2014, was formally installed in the role at a parade on the famous Castle’s Esplanade.
The parade included troops from The Royal Regiment of Scotland and Pipes and Drums from the Regiment, and the ceremonial key to the world famous landmark was officially handed over by The Lord Lyon, King of Arms, the head of all traditional heraldry in Scotland, accompanied by his Heralds and Pursuivants.
A thousand years of predecessors
He joins a distinguished list of Governors, which dates back to the 11th Century, but his is the first time this appointment has been held by an Army Reservist: in modern times, it has been held by the most senior Regular Army officer in Scotland.
The Major General said of his appointment, “I am very honoured to be installed in such a historic appointment as The Governor of Edinburgh Castle. My job will be to represent the Army in Scottish society and it is something that I will take great pleasure in doing.”
On parade during the ceremony he was carrying his Grandfather’s sword, which was loaned to him from the Cameronians’ Museum in Hamilton. Major General Riddell-Webster’s Grandfather, General Sir Thomas Riddell-Webster GCB DSO, a famous officer in the now-disbanded Cameronians, was the Quartermaster General between 1942 and 1946.