Regimental Association - Balaklava Pipes and Drums
Annual Update, 2011
PIPEFEST, Edinburgh, Saturday 7th August 2010
Almost 300 Pipe Bands from all over the UK and much further afield, assembled under the walls of Edinburgh Castle for the parade down the City’s Royal Mile to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Relief.
The Balaklava Pipes and Drums, led by Pipe Major Gordon Haggerty, were in Block 16, together with the 42nd Highlanders Association of California, a band from Lausanne in Switzerland and three others that set off down the High Street at approximately 1345 hours to march to Holyrood Park. We played (repeatedly) two sets of marches, one beginning with "Scotland the Brave", the other with "Green Hills of Tyrol", with brief rests along the way.
The pavements on both sides were packed with sightseers all the way down past St Giles, the Palace and the Parliament building, where we swung left-handed into the Park, filmed by Scottish Television (STV) cameramen leading our "Block". Once in the Park, we could slake our thirsts and enjoy a burger and ice creams, before forming up (just in time) for the Massed Grand Finale. We bade farewell to our comrades of the Californian 42nd Highlanders, with many assurances of a hearty welcome to their home base on the Queen Mary some time in the future! A great day, and very well worthwhile.
Strontian Agricultural Show -- Saturday 14th August 2010
Nineteen band members turned out for the drive to Strontian via the Corran Ferry to Ardgour on a lovely sunny day. We had last played at the Strontian Show some years back but, as this year the date coincided with the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, perhaps the Show organisers found it difficult to sign up another band?
It was a warm day, so the pipers turned out in white shirts, ie No1 Dress minus tunics and plaids -- a lot more comfortable -- while the drummers remained in full kit, including their new feather bonnets. The organisers had laid on generous refreshments for us in the school, and there were burgers available on the showground.
Fortunately, there was no sign of the dreaded West Coast midges (surprise); there were wasps around, but nobody got stung. Maybe the wasps were scared away by the sound we made, though there was enough human (and animal) "pong" in the air to attract them! We played two Circle Sets in the show arena with a two hour break in-between and by 1600 hours were on our way for the long drive home -- a most enjoyable and relatively stress-free outing.
Band programme for 2011
Over the winter months, we have been working on new sets of tunes, including those required by the Massed Bands at this year’s Royal Braemar Gathering on 3rd September, at which the Band will be parading for the first time.
Our other Summer engagements include Gala Days at Broxburn, Bathgate, Gargunnock and Tullibody; appearances at the Stirling Highland Games, DecAid and Erskine Hospital (both Edinburgh), and Retreat following a special version of the popular TV programme “Antiques Roadshow” in Stirling Castle in aid of Poppyscotland. Later in the Autumn, we’ll play Retreat after the annual Regimental Cocktail Party at the Castle, and for the Remembrance Sunday Parade in Alloa.
