Ian was the natural choice, then, when (cutting a long story short) The London Scottish Volunteer Enterprises decided to commission this commemorative project in honour of the Regiment. His brief was to attempt to re-imagine, rewrite and remember the old songs found in a book of trench songs collated by Duncan Tovey, a storyteller of the Regiment during World War 1. This soon developed into Young Territorial, sequence deploying original songs and linking recitations to tell the Regiment's long and colourful story and highlight its role in quietly lacing and touching almost every major conflict from the Boer War to the present day. Major Rob Pitt, VR Rifles sets exactly the right tone with the recitations, while Ian's supreme songwriting skills enable different facets of the story to be told authentically and affectionately. To realise the story, Ian's assembled a 13-piece roster of guest singers and musicians, a crack team humorously christened The Tartan Spiders, who rise to the occasion with true spirit and are clearly enjoying every moment of their involvement. The musical idiom embraces the proudly anthem scale of the title song and Hallowe'en, full brass backing for Big Drum Major, cheeky music hall on The Auld Corps, the deliciously fun tale of Sandy The Piper, and Fairport/LJE-style folk-rock on Grey Kilts and the cumulative ensemble piece Wey Hey For The Hodden Grey. Ian's stirring original poem, A Legend of Sheppey, 1910, memorably recited by Charlie Milne, makes a fitting finale to the album.

Young Territorial is beautifully presented in the best Greentrax tradition. It's self-evidently a labour of love for Ian, a well unified sequence of songs and readings that celebrates its subject mightily in entertaining and accessible folk style while also providing uplift and enlightenment in these troubled times.