City of Rochester Pipe Band to be represented in Australia

As the City of Rochester Pipe Band begin preperations for the Grange Park Military Tattoo next year, we are pleased to announce that we will be represented in Australia as Peter Tennant reports:

July 28, 2012

I am going on holiday next year to Australia. I will, be taking the pipes with me as I am going to go and do some practising
with North Metro Pipe Band who are a Grade 4 competition  band. It will be interesting to see how the practising differs from the City of Rochester Pipe Band. I first started to learn the pipes with a Grade 4 competition pipe band namely Dartford and District Pipe band before they disbanded in 2006/2007 being taught by Rob Hill who in my opinion is a great teacher. I managed to talk him into coming to the City of Rochester Pipe Band to teach our own learners, a task which he has superbly taken on. I am awaiting some music from North Metro to start learning for when I go to Oz, looking forward to the new challenge. 

Posted by peter tennant.

Grange Park Tattoo planning underway



The Massed Pipes and Drums during the 2012 Basel Tattoo, Switzerland

Planning for the 2013 Grange Park Military Tattoo is now well underway. The theme for this years event is "What is a Tattoo?" This year we will be trying to explain this through music.

The opening notes of "Farewell to Camraw", played by a small group of pipers will signal the apperance of the awe inspiring Massed Pipes and Drums setting our show on the road. It is hoped they will be playing rousing renditions of tunes such as "Prince Charles Welcome to Lochaber" and "The 79th's Farewell to Gibralter". This year's prestigious band is drawn from the Royal Air Force and several other civillian bands from across the South of England. They should comprise the City of Rochester Pipe Band, Colchester and District Pipe Band, The highly popular Queen Victoria School Dunblane Pipe Band and the Pipes and Drums of RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire. Also appearing later in the show are the Eastbourne Scottish and Epping Forest Pipe Bands.

The Pipes, Drums and Dancers of the Queen Victoria School Dunblane are also planned to appear alongside the Eastbourne Scottish Pipe Band and the Fiona Ray school of Highland Dancing. In this item, we shall try to tell the story of Scottish Highland Dancing.

The Bloco Fogo Samba Band also appear underlining the cultaral acts that Tattoo events bring.

The finale sees all of our Pipe Bands return to the arena and it has a real Scottish flavour to it with tunes such as "The Green Hills of Tyrol", "The Battle's o'er" and "Auld Lang Syne" being played.


All acts appear subject to availability and plans could change at any time, although the theme will remain the same.

We look forward to seeing you all in July.
Christopher Nelson,
Tattoo Producer

Delight for Grange Park as Tattoo gets the green light



Elise Walsh will once again be joining the team as the Tattoo's Production Assistant. Here, she attends a rehearsal for last years Jubilee Tattoo and holds the pipes belonging to Major Tony Daniel, the current Director of Music of the City of Rochester Pipe Band

We are very pleased to confirm that our Tattoo has found a new location. The event will be taking place at the Grange Park Key Stage 5 site next year.

"This comes after discussions with the Head of Key Stage 5", said Elise Walsh, who will reprise her role as Production Assistant once again. "The Jubilee event was such a success that we decided to do the same thing at Key Stage 5 and we are very glad that Mr Hitchings has excepted our proposal", she finished.

No less than 4 Pipe Bands our expected to attend this year to create a 60 strong band from the City of Rochester Pipe Band, The Eastbourne Scottish Pipe Band, The Colchester and District Pipe Band and the Epping Forest Pipe Band based just a few miles from Central London.

The show begins with a combined display by The City of Rochester and Colchester and District Pipe Band playing a brand new set of tunes from the 2012 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The Colchester band will later on be accompanying the Fiona Ray School of Highland Dancing in their individual display, which will be performed under the joint direction of Fiona Ray and Lorna Hicks.

We should also have a combined display from the Eastbourne Scottish and Epping Forest Pipe Bands as well as an apperance from the Bloco Fogo Samba Band, who recently wowed the crowds as the Olympic Torch Relay made its way through Borurgh Green.

Of course the ever popular Massed Pipe Bands Finale will return this year and includes favourites such as "The Green Hills of Tyrol", "The Battle's o'er" and "Highland Laddie" plus many more. As ever, the event will conclude with the Tattoo Cast marching off to our signature tune "Marie's Wedding".

We hope you will join us for this event which will take place in July 2013.

With best wishes to all,

Christopher Nelson,

Tattoo Producer

P.S This post will be removed after a 2 month period due to the use of Elise's photograph.



War and Peace 2012 review



The Massed Pipes and Drums performing during the Fulda Tattoo Parade

Huge thanks are in order for the members of The City of Rochester Pipe Band who played extremely well today in the hot weather. However, the band did play most of the allocated set list, for which we are grateful.

The band were involved in a church service this morning playing the lament "Flowers of the Forest" followed by the hymn "Mine Eyes have Seen the Glory". This was then followed at 1:00pm by the traditional circuit of the stalls stepping off with the rousing "Marie's Wedding", followed by "The Nut Brown Maiden", "The Barren Rocks of Aden" and "Highland Laddie".

The highlight of the day was playing for the veterans in the bar. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves as we struck up "Scotland the Brave" and "The Rowan Tree", marching in to a chorus of cheers. We then played a couple of static sets before finishing for a well earned break.

At 2:00pm, we again played in the bar for the veterans. Everybody joined in with the 6/8 set comprising "Cock o the North" and "Bonnie Dundee", two very famous Scottish marches. At just before 3:00 the band left the bar playing "The Green Hills of Tyrol", followed by "The Battle's o'er" and "Lochanside". This set took the band to the participants car park, where events slowly drew  to a close.

We are grateful to everybody who allowed the band to take part and look forward to playing again next year.

Many thanks,

Christopher Nelson

Chief Executive

Pipes and Drums on Tour





Falklands Anniversary and War and Peace show: 20th and 22nd July 2012



The City of Rochester Pipe Band preparing to march round the stalls during the War and Peace Show, Paddock Wood, Kent

Come and listen to the City of Rochester Pipe Band on two consecutive days this coming weekend. On Friday 20th July, (tomorrow) the Band will be leading the Falklands Anniversary Parade to a Drumhead service taking place on the centre of the site just behind the three oast houses. The Band will be playing the traditional lament "Flowers of the Forest" for this event. For details of other tunes being played, please ask the Director of Music for further details.

Alternatively, you can also watch the band again on Sunday 22nd July when they will be playing for the last day of the War and Peace Show. The band has already been allocated a set list for the march around the stalls, but on this occasion we are happy for veterans and public audiences alike to request tunes for the standing routines. To do this, please talk to the Director of Music or another member of the Pipes and Drums on Tour team.

Both events will be taking place at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent.

Members absent on Friday:

Elise Walsh

Ivan Brooks

Brian Brooks
Christopher Nelson

Members present on Friday:

Peter Tennant

Keith Jacobs
Tony Daniel

Members absent on Sunday:
Elise Walsh (?)
Ivan Brooks
Brian Brooks

Members present on Sunday:
Elise Walsh (?)
Christopher Nelson
Peter Tennant
Keith Jacobs
Tony Daniel

We look forward to taking an active role in this event.

Many thanks
Christopher Nelson
Chief Executive
Pipes and Drums on Tour

 





Current schedule for 2012/13

Current Bookings 2012/13

2012:

19^th July: Solo Piper, Olympic Torch Relay, Birchington on-Sea, Kent

20th July: City of Rochester Pipe Band, Falklands Anniversary Parade, Beltring, Kent

22nd July: City of Rochester Pipe Band, War and Peace Show, Beltring, Kent

10^th November: Massed Pipes and Drums, London War Widows Parade, Whitehall, London

11^th November: City of Rochester Pipe Band, Remembrance Parade, Rochester, Kent

1st December: City of Rochester Pipe Band, Christmas Dickens Festival, Rochester, Kent

Presently, there are no bookings for September and October and the Transplant Games event in August  has been cancelled.

2013:

June: City of Rochester Pipe Band, Bower Grove School Summer Fete, Maidstone, Kent

June/July: Massed Pipes and Drums, Grange Park Pipe Band Festival, Snodland, Kent

Jobs done:

6^th July: Solo Piper, Funeral, Barham Crematorium, Canterbury, Kent

Our list will be updated regularly as bookings are received and jobs are completed. It is advisable to book early to avoid disappointment.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Many thanks
Christopher Nelson
Chief Executive
Pipes and Drums on Tour

Introduction to Pipes and Drums on Tour

The City of Rochester Pipe Band playing for the Royal British Legion, Chartam in 2007

Welcome to Pipes and Drums on Tour. This is a voulentary run organisation that was set up recently on Saturday 23rd June after a successful Tattoo was staged to mark the 50th Anniversary of Bower Grove Special School in Maidstone, Kent.

The aim of this organisation is to bring the sight and sound of Pipes and Drums to different parts of Southern England. We have contacts with a range of organisations including 3 Pipe Bands, a local group of Highland Dancers and a local group of Scottish Country Dancers. At present we can provide the following ensambles for your event:

Massed Pipes and Drums

Single Pipe Band

Pipe Band, Highland Dancers

Pipe Band, Highland Dancers, Scottish Country Dancers

Massed Pipes and Drums, Highland Dancers, Scottish Country Dancers

Solo Piper

Solo Piper plus single Highland Dancer

At present it is not possible to provide Ministry of Defence bands due to the various olympic and ceremonial events happening in London. However, this is something that we are looking into for the future.

This page will be updated regularly, with myself, Elise Walsh, Ivan Brooks and other band members providing various peices of information.

We can be contacted by using the following address;

chrisnelson77@hotmail.co.uk

Further contact details will appear here in due course. Please state the type of ensamble you require when booking so that we can accomodate for you.

We hope you enjoy your visit to this site and that you will consider using us for your special occasion.

With best wishes to all,

Christopher Nelson,

Chief Executive

Pipes and Drums on Tour