Battle of Britain Memorial show, Crawley mall, Bagpipe band

Helping out the air cadet band at their Battle of Britain memorial show in Crawley mall.
the cadets put up one pipe and a drum corps ...  we had 3 pipers and a matching drum corps.

The first show was started with a pseudo flash mob, playing Highland cathedral util all arranged ..  then we went through some of the cadet sets.

The second show started with a march in from the toilets ..  separating around the centre stalls and into the playing area to meet again. this time playing the 3/4 sets (easier on the march)
then through the same sets as the first time

Armed Forces Day, Littlehampton, Bagpipe band

Second year we had been invited to Littlehampton Armed Forces day.

We gathered at 9:00 am or so .. then had to wait for the parade to form at 10:30 ish ...  luckily this year we were on a shorter route, from the amusement centre along the road and into the field.

the march we the usual mess with each section at their own step.  then into the field for the drum head service ..  the weather was hot, and only offset by a breeze coming off the sea.
the usual set of "assistants" rushing around with water. then we marched off for a quick break.

Tuned up quickly then we were back in for an arena show ...  big field, small band ...  not sure the audience heard much, we snaked around the field then formed a circle, play some more then reformed and went out.  We gave them 20 mins and marched out..

then a big debate about which pub to go to before heading home.

Horley Carnival, Bagpipe band

Horley carnival show time again ...  Once more we were doing several slots ...  first in the town centre ...  performing for the cafe's.

then we joined the parade and played down the road to the rec. field.

and finally we performed on the field ...  not our best performance, and we struggled through ...  two pipers were making up numbers and two of us were trying to do what we could, the drum corps was on their first show without the lead tip.

Burn's Night, Redhill

Last minute call ...  there was a requirement to provide a piper to a pub between Redhill and Reigate ..  as I had my main one called off (they did not want to pay the fee) this filled the gap.

Tuned up at home first then in their office, and ready before time ..  which was a little scrambled and fluid.

the diners were all around the pub, and I squeezed in by the door .. so as t be out of the way and also manage the volume.

Through the standard sets, with a repeat of StB for an encore as that is the one they recognized the most.

A bit annoying was the mobile phone videos and the bright light into the face ... but just put on the competition face.

A bit of banter at the end ,, I had a few try to get a note out of the pipes, which they all struggled with to great humour.

Then pack up and back home

Remembrance day parade - SIlvertown

 Another year, another parade at Silvertown ...  hopping between the showers we arrived at 9am ready for first tune up then back in to avoid the showers and form up just after 10am ... 
parade went up the hill and around the 3 roundabouts before coming back down to the St Mark's, or Brick Lane Music Hall as it now is, for the service ..
then inside for tea and cakes

 a shorter parade back ..  we just wen to the first roundabout, then into the RBL club for a chat and some lunch.

the journey home in the sunshine and showers proved interesting on the motorway with the reflection.

Show of Hands, GLive

Sue's birthday  ... Show of Hands playing in GLive, so I we took the opportunity to go ..

the hall was about 2/3rds full .. Miranda was not around but they had the percussionist from Seth lakemans band in tow .. made a good change and some rearrangements worked really well.

Set List

Cousin Jack

Country Life

Dreckley

I'll Haunt You

My True Love

Tomorrow It's Another Swamp

Cold Frontier

Exile

Jenny's Waltz / Gwennap / Breakfast for Altan

You'll Get By

First We Take Manhattan

Santiago

Galway Farmer

The Train / Blackwaterside

Littlehampton Armed Forces Day - Bagpipe band

We were invited to be part of Armed forces day parade at Littlehampton.

The  Grenadier guards band provided the main music for the march, and we just walked along.  Not bad as we were down to just 4 pipers at this point.

The parade ground was on the sea front .. give the hot temperature and the relentless sun shine the sea breeze was very welcome.

some of the groups presenting themselves, but we did not have much chance to see them in action

Some tuning and also meeting up with Gordon, who had sensibly, for him, kept out of the march, and an old member ...  we were ready for our parade ground performance (although a little late, or was the call early)  we marched on and up and down a bit then into a circle.
We played for 20 mins then left.

Then we went off to the pub for some liquid refreshment.

I could not hang around as I had to head home and pack for the summer break.