Laurieton RSL vice president Joy Smith has met His Royal Highness the Duke of Rothesay, Prince Charles while attending the Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS) Mey Highland Games.
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Joy’s presence at the event highlights the strong relationship between the Laurieton RSL with the Royal British Legion Wick, Canisbay and Latheron branch.
In 2017 Laurieton RSL secretary George Wise also got the opportunity to meet His Royal Highness Prince Charles.
Captain Richard Otley, whose late father William was a member of the Laurieton RSL sub branch, initially forged links between the Royal British Legion Scotland and the local RSL.
At the RBLS Mey Highland Games Joy witnessed traditional events such as the tug-of-war and a gun display.
Organisers from the Royal British Legion Wick, Canisbay and Latheron Branch invited both para and Invictus athletes to compete in traditional Highland track-and-field competitions.
It was the first time disabled competitors had been included within a traditional Highland Games in Scotland.
Joy proudly wore her service medal on Anzac Day in Laurieton. The medal signifies her commitment as a nurse during the Korean War.
In those days, Joy said nurses weren’t allowed to have sick days, unless it was physically impossible to turn up to work.
“You had to go to work even if you were sick,” she said.
Joy joined in 1951 and her job was to vaccinate men before they went to the war and she cared for them when they returned home.
Soldiers used to ‘keel over’, Joy said before they got the needle.