The Greatest Show on Earth:
Thirty Years Commentating at the Edinburgh Tattoo
Alasdair Hutton
Tuesday, 12th October 2021
Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, 7.30 p.m.
Alasdair Hutton had followed a career in journalism, broadcasting and politics, both international and local, when he was picked out of the blue to narrate and write the script for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1992 (it became Royal in 2010). He wrote and narrated every performance in Britain and abroad until it was abruptly cancelled by Covid-19 in its 70th anniversary year of 2020.
In his talk he will explain how Tattoos started and how he started in them. He will explain why Scotland and Edinburgh became the home of the Greatest Show on Earth and will describe some of the highlights of his career in Edinburgh and also of the many other Tattoos he has written and presented around the world.
Alasdair Hutton represented Tweeddale in the European Parliament for ten years as the first Member for the South of Scotland. He has been a regular visitor to the area supporting the Beltane celebrations and speaking in Peebles on 66 occasions over the years.
Alasdair started his working life in broadcasting and moved into journalism before he entered the political arena where he also spent nine years as Convener of Scottish Borders Council.
He served 35 years as a volunteer soldier, mainly in the Parachute Regiment TA, and is the author of six books mostly for children.
