Gay's Latest News

5th December - General Monck's 400th Anniversary Tattoo, Merton

A lot of planning went into this one, which did include the band learning 3 new tunes. Well the plans changed weekly due to bands pulling out and finding tunes we could all play with as little a pressure on each band. Only the evening before the event we were working with the Barnstaple Town Youth Marching Band trying to find a tune we could both play and march into the arena to.

Another Saturday and another day of horrible weather. Wet, windy and cold not a brilliant night to be exposed to the elements in Merton. We arrived and had a quick tune up for rehearsals before we started to play all together. There was a quick meeting with the band leaders and the organisers and it was decided that it would be better if we could perform in the village hall. So we had to do some quick thinking and change all the different march on and offs, but we would be more relaxed in the warm, not shivering to death outside, the instruments wouldn't suffer from the rain and we would be able to feel the holes on our chanters.

Well it all went amazingly well, you would have thought we had it planned this way for weeks not just an hour before the crowd arrived. Well done to all the performers on the night it was brilliant.

28th November - Bideford Christmas Lights Switch On

All I can really say is; it was Very Very Cold and Very Very Wet!

We started off playing outside the Baptist Church in a light misty drizzle and it just progressed getting worse and worse, the weather and the sound of the pipes. Our hands started to get wet and with the cold wind were getting numbingly cold. By the time we arrived on the quay to lead the Reindeer and Santa around the town I could hardly feel my chanter let alone the holes on it.

We battled on and did the parade, it didn't sound great but in the circumstances I think it was understandable. I'm very proud of the members that came out for this one, it was hard work and I hardly heard anyone moan in fact all I did hear was encouragement to each other to try and forget the cold.

21st November - Holsworthy Carnival

Holsworthy Carnival is the same every year the only thing that changes is the weather and where we are in the parade. This year we were near the start so there was less starting and stopping and we seemed to fly around. It was a cold evening with a nasty cold wind, but once we got into the built up area it was much warmer. The highlight of Holsworthy Carnival is the hot pasties and a cuppa back at the church hall.

14th November - Hatherleigh Carnival

This was a return to Hatherleigh for the band, the last time we played at this one was five years ago and only a few of the current band were there. So it was quite exciting for the new members to see the 52 burning torches being lit and it warmed us up while we waited for the carnival to start.

It was great to do this one again and I think the crowd enjoyed us too and we did manage to glimpse the tar barrels passing later on.

8th November - Bideford Remembrance Parade

We were glad it was dry this year, well it couldn't get any wetter than last year. The band once again led the dignitaries to and from the war memorial in Victoria Park. It all went without a hitch really, the band were still playing for the troops marching into the park when we arrived, but a that was a minor thing.

After the church service we have to walk back to the cars and we decided it would be good to march back through the narrow streets playing Killaloe, it sound great and we finished the day on a high.

7th November - Dolton & Dowland Carnival

All week we had had weather warnings for heavy rain for Saturday. Saturday arrived and they weren't wrong, it poured down all day, but at about 3pm it started to ease off and things began to look promising, but as we set off to Dolton the heavens opened up once again and it looked like it was going to be a horrible evening. We tuned up between showers and headed off to the start of the carnival in light drizzle, just after the procession started the rain stopped and we stayed dry for the rest of the evening.

This year we followed the flaming torches which must of given us a real pagan look and it did at least give us a bit of heat, well it did certainly feel colder when we lost the torches at the end of the carnival. We seemed to get around in record time mainly due to less people watching and a few floats must have pulled out due to the weather forecast.

We finished the evening at Taff's the chippy in Torrington, and you'll be glad to know they did taste better than last time.

28th October - THEME NIGHT, Halloween

This has become an annual event at band, dressing up and a few silly games.

Opps Forgot one! 24th August - James May Toy Thingy

We were asked by the Mayor or Bideford to play at the old Bideford railway station to welcome in a world record attempt at building the longest model railway track being set up by Top Gear's James May.

The idea was to have a big bang and crash as the train arrived in the station, a sort of celebration as the first train arrived at Bideford for many years. James May had already been at the North Devon Show drumming up support to lay the 9 miles of track from Barnstaple to Bideford and also involved the local scout group to make a model station for the train to arrive in, all was going well so far......

The day of the world record breaking attempt - Well the day started with torrential downpours but the skies did clear and the track was laid only to have some no brainers vandalising it along the way! Well this only set things back more. We were due to play the train in at about 4pm, but we arrived to find out that the train would be at least another hour. After an hour we were told the train was at Fremington Quay, so we waited a little longer. By this time a crowd had started to build up expecting the train soon, and as the band were their they assumed that the train must be near. Well we thought we would play a few tunes to entertain the crowd while we waited as we only had to play one tune when it arrived. While we played the TV camera came out and filmed us, not at our best I must say but I wasn't too worried as I had time for a quick tune up before the train arrived.

We played then filled out consent forms to say that it was ok to show us on TV. They did ask on the form for any distinguishing features i.e. Clothing, so I think most of the band put wearing a kilt and silly hat. After us it was the Torridge Male Voice Choir's time to entertain the waiting crowd. Apparently they were slightly the worse for wear as they had been waiting in the pub for 2 hours. They gave us Bideford's very own anthem; 'Little White Town'. Another hour had past and the train was still at Fremington Quay and we were still mingling around talking to the Mayor while the TV crew were getting shots of the crowd hanging about.

In the end it was decided that the wasn't going to arrive until about 9pm! So we all went home. Did the train arrive???? You'll have to wait and see the programme on the telly soon!

3rd October - Ilminster Carnival

First time the band have done this one, a few of us had done it with the City of Exeter Pipe & Drums but is was a first for our band. The band parked near the end off the route, so we then had to walk to the start via the market square, where we had been asked to play a few tunes. So we played a few tunes to the few early birds waiting for the carnival and they looked at us like what the hell are you doing, but clapped to be polite. We only played a few tunes before heading off to the start.

We were told to find our own place in the carnival and it was a struggle to find something quietish. We ended up behind the Love Train. This is a really dark carnival with all the floats with lots and lots of lights, the same as Bridgwater, even the majorettes had a car in front lighting them up. We must of looked pretty dark marching along and I think we'll have to do something about that if we do it again.

Marching along in the carnival was fantastic, the crowd clapped and cheered us all the way, which was brilliant and a great help as we had to play a lot and the crowds cheering you made you want to play more and I think it makes you play better, it also helped make the route not seem quite so far.

A big thank you to everyone who cheered us at Ilminster.

26th September - South Molton Carnival

This is usually a quick march around the town and back home via Torrington for chips from Taffs. The march around the town wasn't as quick as it normally is and we set off behind what seemed like the nosiest float in the carnival. We soon stepped to one side and let a few more floats past trying to find somewhere quiet, we ended up settling for some thing a little less noisy and struggled all the way round with the clash of beats. The carnival pace did pick up near the end of the carnival. We were delighted to hear that the Bideford Carnival Queen had taken first place.

The chips from Taffs wasn't up to their usual standard, just an off day or are they losing their touch?

17th September - Tour of Britain Cycle Race

We had the honour of opening the days events playing at 11.30am to midday. We had a little trouble getting the kids off school, we were led to believe that as it was being organised by Devon County Council, kids would be given the day off school. There were events planned for the whole of the day ending with Bideford's Got Talent in Victoria Park. Anyway Bideford College were letting their pupils off at 2.20pm and the bike race was due in at 2.40pm. So they had 20 minutes to get to a jammed packed quay and try to peer over the heads of hundreds of people for a 2 second glance of the bikes as they flashed past, great plan eh!

We did manage to get our bunch off though and a great job they did, there wasn't that many watching but the people that were there seemed to like us. It was a strange experience marching along the quay which was barriered off on both sides and covered with adverts. The whole place seemed a different place, with commentary boxes here and there, hospitality marquee and cars and lorries everywhere.

Mike and I didn't get to see the race and the rest of the days events, as we had to zoom off to Exeter to meet up with the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service Unit Ceremonial Band to travel to Holland to play in Arnhem for the 65th anniversary of Operation Market Garden.

I did hear though that the whole build up to the race was great fun and Bideford's Got Talent was nearly won by the bands very own little star Connor Gould who came second and by all accounts "you was robbed". Connor's a budding learner piper in the band and looks like a star of the stage later in life.

Well done Connor and the rest of the band for entertaining Bideford.

9th September - Bideford Quay

We seemed to be doing a lot of playing on Bideford Quay and this time it was part of Bideford Regatta Week. In the last few years when we done this, it's rained and this year..........it didn't. There weren't that many watching and the whole band seemed to be suffering from fatigue from a lot of playing over the weekend, so all in all it wasn't a great nights playing, it soon got dark and the only people left watching were parents waiting to take their kids home so we gave up and went home ourselves.

5th September - Bideford Carnival & Festival of Piping and Drumming

It's a busy weekend for the band starting with:-

FRIDAY - Jiggerypipery Concert

Even though the band wasn't playing, the Friday night involves some hard dancing and partying. The night was a great success kicking off with the Free Born Men and then some brilliant celtic music from Jiggerypipery. We also had two birthdays to celebrate - the bands Charlotte Gubb was celebrating her 16th and James Robertson from Jiggery was also celebrating his birthday although he is a little older than Char.

Oh I nearly forgot the 11am piper, a new idea for this year - to kick off each day with a lone piper playing by Kingsley Statue and I was the first to start this tradition.

SATURDAY - Bideford Carnival & Massed Band

A big day for the band and for Mike and I, as we not only have to sort out the band but also the massed bands and the carnival.

The day starts off quietly and progressively gets busier and busier. The morning is usually spent sorting out any carnival problems that arise and then at 3pm it's time to put up the marquee for the massed bands VIP's, then I rush off to the other end of Bideford to tune up the band and get around to all the other bands taking part in the massed bands to welcome them and make sure they know what they're doing. At 4.30pm the massed band starts rehearsals for the evenings performance. This year our Senior Drum Major was Alastair Pether and he was a brilliant help when it came to lining everyone up. Rehearsals went ok but I don't think we would do as much marching next year, just practice the tunes static and save our energy for the evening. At 5.30pm we all headed off to the start of the carnival. I'm always surprised by the hussle bussle going on at the start, it's a great atmosphere.

The carnival went ok with our band marching all the way around and the other pipe bands doing the start and finish. After the carnival we have time for a quick drink and something to eat supplied by the massed bands committee before the big event. We start of with each band marching down the quay individually before forming one massed band.

The massed band was great and worked well again this year, although I think we need to sort out the length and width of the counter march. The crowd loved it and the Chieftain of the Gathering our local M.P. Geoffrey Cox said "It was a great honour to take the salute of the massed pipe band, and indeed, it was one of the highlights so far of my time as an MP". We finished the evening at the Tavern in the Port for a fantastic buffet and live music from Chris Millington.

Saturday's 11am piper was Pipe Major Colin Opie from the City of Exeter Pipes & Drums.

SUNDAY - Piping on the Quayside

A nice relaxed morning playing with members of the other pipe bands left over from the night before. We take requests from the crowd and players shout out tunes, if you can play them, join in. We had a few dodgy tunes because of different versions, but that just added to the fun and relaxed atmosphere. It was a nice finish to the weekend.

Sunday's 11am piper was James Robertson from Jiggerypipery and the Cornwall Caledonian Pipes & Drums.

31st August - North Devon Mini Run, Westward Ho! and Bude Lifeboat Day

The mini run at Westward Ho! sees minis and the people in them in fancy dress, so when we march to the beginning of the cars we march past all sorts, smurfs, nuns, gorillas and even umpa lumpas. The nice weather and the minis certainly pulled a huge crowd and the start was cram packed full of people. So another great parade to send the mini's on their way.

We then all headed off to Bude and Lifeboat day. The message was sent ahead to Simon to get the barbecue started and the sausages on as we're on our way, we were playing within an hour of getting to Bude so we didn't have time to get changed, so we just had time for a quick relax and a bite to eat. Our first performance involved marching down the canal side to the sea lock, drawing the crowds toward the beach to watch the rescue display in the sea. We played until we heard the helicopter arrive and watched it doing a mock rescue and then marched back along the canal and all the way back to our base where Simon was cooking barbecue number two of the day, we still didn't have time to change before our second performance which was on the other side of the canal on the Castle Green. After we had eaten for the second time we all headed back towards town to play. The Castle Green was really busy with people and there was live music in the marquee there so we played by the Bude Light instead, we love playing here as the acoustics are great and the crowd are all around us watching on the steps and green banks around it. The band went down really well and we enjoyed playing. It was then time to head back for our third barbecue of the day and this time we could get changed and have some fun.

A big thank you to Simon for feeding us all day and everyone else that helped.

30th August - North Devon Mini Run, Bideford

I'm always amazed by the amount of mini's that arrived for this and this year was no exception, Victoria Park seemed to be cram packed full of mini's here there and everywhere, wherever you looked you could see a mini peeping out. The band lead the mini's along Bideford Quay before stepping to one side and letting them get on their way.

29th August - Bradworthy Carnival

This carnival is always a nice and relaxed one, a real village event. We lead the carnival queens from the square to the field where the rest of the carnival are being judged. Then the carnival leaves the playing field and heads around the village, usually there's lots of people watching around the square but I thought it seemed less this year. But the people that were there hung around for our performance after the carnival in the square. The band finished the night with a lovely tea in the church rooms.

27th August - Ilfracombe Carnival

The weather hadn't looked good all day but when we left Bideford it was dry, we reached Ilfracombe to find heavy drizzle and noisy floats, so I found it a little difficult to tune up next to a ghost train. I got there in the end and the drizzle was easing off. By the start of the parade the rain was back with us, it wasn't much fun marching along with rain dripping off the end of your nose. By the time we got half way around the route the clouds starts to break up and the sun came out for the march down the sea front. It was good to get back to Braunton to the chippy for some hot food and the best curry sauce so far this year!

12th August - Combe Martin Carnival

In the afternoon there was a fatal accident in Barnstaple and we were advised to stay away, not great news when you're in Bideford and need to cross the Taw to get to Combe Martin, so plan B came into play and we went the long long route via Torrington and South Molton, scenic route or what! We arrived a little later than we wanted too and had no time to get any vehicle to the end of the route, so it was going to be a long walk back for someone later.

The carnival was just the same as previous year's with lots of hold ups and it seemed to take for ever to complete along with lots of drunk people. Eventually we did finish and as the carnival had past it's road closure, the cars were already trying to get through the village so we couldn't march back up the finish line with the North Devon Pipes & Drums. The band headed for the chip shop while Mike and Dave headed back to pick up the cars to get the drivers back to the start, it was a very long evening and we didn't get home until midnight.

5th August - Hartland Highland Games

This was the first time the band had played at a highland games, well it was more of a village fete with a Scottish theme, well it turned out that we were the Scottish bit. I did see one caber tossed but the events that were on looked great fun for the whole family and everyone certainly looked like they were having a great time. We were struggling for players with no bass drummer and no stand in bass drummer we couldn't really afford to lose a piper on to bass so our lead tip Chris stepped in and did a great job. The band played play a couple of times and went down really well.

1st August - Tintagel Carnival

It must be one of the nicest places to tune up, in a coastal car park, overlooking the Atlantic ocean and looking up and down the Cornish cliffs. As carnivals go this is a nice one, a bit of a march before you get into the village, but when you get there it's well worth it, the crowds are great although a little reluctant to get out of the way of a marching band. It's nice to see all the other bands in the carnival, I think there were six bands including us. The carnival flew past, we set off and never stopped marching at full pace, struggling to keep up until the carnival turned around to go back up through the village. It's always nice to keep going with no long hold ups.

Well done to Nicole who played side drum for the first time out on parade, you fitted into the back row well, I think we may of lost a tenor drummer now!

29th July - Culdrose Air Day joining the Cornwall Caledonian Pipes & Drums

Last year the weather was pretty bad with mist and rain and I thought it couldn't be rainy and horrible two years in a row but I was wrong, the weather was worse, constant rain which seemed to keep getting heavier. I think most of the main arena events were canceled, we ended up performing in a big hangar where they were selling food. We only did a couple of short performances and were finished by just after 2pm.

Now we had two choices we could either hang around in the rain waiting for the weather to improve and see a bit of flying at about 4 or 5 o'clock or head off to Paignton to help out the City of Exeter Pipes & Drums in Torbay Carnival. Most of the band choose the carnival so off we went, well we had traveled this far and only played for a short time so we might as well go get some practice in at Paignton, even though we were a bit soggy from walking around at the air day. We met up with Exeter and they now had a band twice the size, we led the parade so it didn't take long to get around, but it was a long hard blow and I'm sure there were a few that thought it wasn't such a good idea after all.

Well done everyone, it must have been one of our longest days out for the band.

26th July - Watchet Carnival

What happened to hot summers? We left Bideford in the rain, arrived in Watchet with only a few spots of rain, but as the carnival began it turned into a drizzle and slowly got heavier. I was surprised by the amount of people watching the carnival, but the normal crowds weren't at the fete and after a downpour there were even less, so we performed to 20% of the usual crowd. The band as always were well received though and we had lots of great comments from people walking back to the cars. We then headed for Minehead for something to eat as the chippy in Watchet had closed.

17th - 20th July - Band trip to Ashbourne Highland Gathering

The plan was to leave late on Friday afternoon travel up to Ashbourne where Jude and Gubby would meet us having been shopping and sorted out our accommodation, so it was all ready for our arrival. Then on Saturday we would explore the Peak district and have a barbecue and then watch the Red Hot Chilli Pipers in the evening. Sunday would be taken up with the highland gathering before traveling home on Monday.

An hour before we left we found out that the Highland Gathering was canceled due to a waterlogged field, to say this was a bit of a let down is an understatement, the only positive thing was that the Saturday night concert would go ahead. So we now had a whole weekend in Ashbourne with a concert to watch on one evening. After a team meeting and lots of looking at leaflets it was decided to stick to the plan on Saturday and then take the band to see some caves on Sunday, as caves seemed to be the thing of the peak district and the leaflet looked good.

Saturday we set off to find somewhere to have a barbecue on the peak and just happen to pull into Carsington Reservoir just to fill some time, but we ended up spending the whole day there and made use of their BBQ area, which was hardly needed as the throw away bbq's wouldn't light properly and we ended up cooking on the two gas cookers we'd brought for boiling kettles. It was good there as we had toilets and space to run around and we ended up walking around the trails of the reservoir before we found the wildlife hut and spent a while bird watching with the binoculars, telescopes and CCTV they had to play with, We even saw a stoat just outside the hut window. We then headed back to the hostel for some food before the concert.

The concert was brilliant, despite the drunk ladies beside us, the person with terrible and I really mean terrible wind and the moaning about Dave's height when he moved because he was getting harassed by the drunk ladies, but the performances from Clanadonia and the Chilli Pipers were excellent, I think they were struggling with the size of the stage and you could tell they were used to something much bigger. A great end to Saturday night.

Sunday after breakfast we set off for Poole's Cavern and managed to get in as a group even though you were meant to ring up before you arrived. The caverns were interesting, but not a patch on Wookey Hole, the west country wins again! This filled a couple of hours of the day so we then headed for the town centre of Buxton to find lunch. After we had found something to eat we all climbed back into the minibus and headed deeper into the peaks and traveled along some roads with spectacular views and ended up in Castleton where we stopped to explore, the younger ones headed off to a visitors centre while the adults headed for the shops, well a few very expensive gift shops that all looked the same, a bit despondent we walked around the corner expecting to find more over priced gift and coffee shops but found what we think was a church fete, we were drawn in by the cake stall but soon found ourselves in the face painting gazebo having our faces painted as Dalmatians. Well it was raining and we had to do something to pass the time, having our faces painted seemed the obvious thing to do. So then there were five Dalmatians walking around Castleton and the look on the kids faces when we got back was well worth it. Sunday evening was spent just chilling out at the hostel.

I had a great weekend, it's a pity the gathering was canceled but never mind there's always another year!

11th - 16th July - Sponsored Walk

Saturday 11th July - Will Webber and Drew Sollis started their 100 mile walk along the North Devon coastline, Starting at the Somerset border and finishing at the Cornish border, carrying all they needed to camp along they way. They didn't start off too well as after two hours of walking they found themselves in Porlock Weir, 6 miles in the wrong direction, oops! So half a day wasted, but they were soon back on track.

They really couldn't have picked a worse week to walk weather wise, the whole week was full of weather warnings of torrential rain most of the week, but they did have quite a bit of sunshine as well which nearly made up for the wet days.

By Tuesday night they had reached Westward Ho! Where a few of the band met up with them to give them some support and encouragement for the rest of the way, as the blisters were coming and fatigue was starting to set in.

They finished the walk on a very very wet Thursday afternoon where Mike and I piped them in and gave them a hot cuppa sheltered under a gazebo.

I think you will agree this was no easy task and I don't really think they thought it was going to be so hard either, but what a thing to achieve, something you will never forget. Well done guys the whole band is proud of you and I expect a few others are too.

I will let you all know how much they raised as soon as we get all the money in.

4th July - St. Breward Carnival

The weather had to be better then last year, as you couldn't really get any worse weather. Well it was dry, the carnival seemed to fly past really and we finished a good hour before we usually have. Which was great as we could get back to the take away and home at a reasonable hour.

It was also the first carnival for piper Shannon Lamey, who did a great job for her first time out.

27th/28th June - Liskeard Carnival & Armed Forces Day, Plymouth

Traveling to Liskeard seems long enough, but to travel all that way again the next day seemed a little silly so it was decided that we could do with overnight accommodation. After lots of hard work from Charles Crichton from the City of Plymouth Pipe Band, who was co-ordinating the Armed Forces Day, tying to find us somewhere to stay we found ourselves a campsite not far outside Liskeard.

So we left early to pitch our tents before the carnival. The campsite looked ok when we arrived with not too many others around, which is good when you have a group of excited kids running around. We started to make camp while Mike and Mandy went off to sort out the money, it was then we saw the peacock and then another peacock and heard the noise that came from the peacocks, boy are they loud. Then came along a dog the size of a donkey, who was sniffing around and then trotted off with a glengarry in it mouth, so then we had the chase of ten kids after one dog to retrieve the hat. They all had wonderful fun running around, but Will wasn't quite so happy when he discovered it was his hat covered in slobber. It was soon time to get changed and make our way to Liskeard for the carnival.

We had a nice relaxed tune up and then marched down to the start of the carnival, where we met up with the City of Plymouth Pipe Band and went through one or two tunes that we were playing the next day. The march around the route went well and we even played up the very steep hill to meet the Plymouth band, where we joined together for a massed band to march the last part of the route, this always sounds and feels great!

After the carnival we had our chips and went back to the campsite for a cuppa before bed. After a nice chill out we all headed off to bed and had settled down, which did take a while, with girls chatting and boys letting hot air out of a different end and then the girls laughing at this, we did eventually settle down and it was then the peacocks started and like our band as soon as one starts they all started and this seemed to go on all night. The next morning we were one very tired band that had our bacon rolls and packed up to make our way to Plymouth for the Armed Forces Day.

Armed Forces Day was excellent, there were representatives from all the Federation of South West Pipe Bands and we must have been a great sight. I was proud to march along and to see one or two of the veterans struggle to their feet and try to stand to attention and salute while we marched past really brought a lump to my throat, and made me feel even more proud. It was a long day of playing and waiting to perform but we all had time to chat and relax.

I'd like to thank everyone for a great weekend, the City of Plymouth Pipe Band for making us all feel so welcome and the whole of our band for making it a fun weekend, despite the peacocks and I haven't even mentioned forgetting the tent poles and a band shirt. Anyway thanks a lot to all of you and let's do it again sometime.

6th June - Ilfracombe Victorian Closing Parade

The weather couldn't have been any different than it was for the opening parade, just one week later and we were nearly wilting in the heat. The whole parade went well right until the end, where the Salvation Army band kept playing at the side of the harbour right until we were next to them, that does tend to spoil the stirring effect of a marching pipe band coming towards you, and when they did stop we had a lady with horse telling us to stop playing, just a thought, if you knew your horse may be nervous of the pipes wouldn't it be a good idea to take the horse to the other end of the harbour and not watch us approach for 500 yards and then panic?

Anyway we did get to play a few tunes after the parade and it went down really well.

14th June - Ilfracombe Victorian Opening Parade

A wet wet wet opening parade, I don't think it stopped raining from the time we arrived until we left, in fact I think it just got harder. The only good thing was that it wasn't cold, when we finished the parade we were all steaming from under our capes.

We did plan to have a barbecue after this engagement, like we did last year, rain hasn't stopped us in the past and it didn't stop us this time either. We just changed our location and headed back to Mandy, Frank and Will's place and had an indoor barbecue.

12th June - THEME NIGHT - Odd Shoe Night

We starting to run out of ideas for new theme nights now so we're going back to some of the best ones from previous years. Pictures to follow soon

31st May - Trebah Gardens Military Day

The Band once again joined up with the Cornwall Caledonian Pipes and Drums to play at this military day in the stunning setting of Trebah Gardens. After a long horrible journey down we arrived with about 2 minutes to spare. We played three times throughout the day, once on the lawn in front of the house, a second time half way down the impressive gardens and at the bottom on the beach and finished the day back at the top on the lawn again. To get from the beach back up to the top of the gardens people were being given a lift up in World War 2 jeeps, this did take a while and a few of the band were hanging around waiting for the last trip up, we were all alone so we started playing a few tunes and then got surrounded by Germans, which was quite funny as it was a military day, especially remembering those who left from that very beach for the D Day landings. Well we entertained the Germans until the jeeps arrived and we didn't mention the war once. On the whole it was a long day but we all enjoyed it, thanks to the Cornwall Caledonians for making us feel welcome.

23rd May - Fund Raising Dance

This was our second fund raising dance in Holsworthy this year and we managed to raise £220. I've decided I love playing in this hall as we sound great, the pipes sound nice and sharp and the sound doesn't echo around like other halls. Everything seemed to be together, all playing to the bass drum, great starts and cut offs and no bum notes. A big big well done to those who were playing, it's the best we've sounded all year.

22nd May - Devon County Show

We arrived early so we could have a quick look around the show before we were due to meet up with the City of Exeter Pipes and Drums. A few of us headed straight for the food marquee to see if we could find some freebies for breakfast. Started off well with some sausage but all went a little downhill from there with only dips, jam and cheese on offer, finished off with chilli chocolate, so it wasn't that bad. Making our way back to the cars for tuning up we got stopped endless times asking what time we were performing.

We performed on the band stand in front of a much larger crowd than last year, mainly due to the blazing sunshine, unlike the heavy rain clouds last year. We played twice on the band stand and also had a march around the show between performances. I liked the march around as you get to see the show as you march along and a lot more people get to see the band play. Our two band policemen worked hard parting the crowds as we marched along, so I expect they probably preferred to watch us on the stage rather than fighting back the crowds. Well done Simon and Gubby!

Loved playing with the City of Exeter band and can't wait until the next time.

19th May - Torrington Mayor Introduction Ceremony

Six of the band were asked by the incoming mayor to play for her ceremony, she is a fan of the band and wanted to do something a little different, and we were the something different. It all seemed to go well and we were enjoyed by the people attending the evening, we got the chance to watch the ceremony and it was interesting to see an historic event taking place.

So congratulations to Councillor Sue Mills on becoming the new Mayor of Torrington and thanks for asking us to be a part of your evening.

9th May - Torrington Carnival

This is our first carnival of the year and always seems a long hard march, well it "IS" a long hard march. This year we were much nearer the front of the parade and we got around the route a lot quicker then we ever have before. The whole band seemed on a high and all happy despite the hard work everyone had to put in, well done all of you.

After the carnival the band's performance in the square went really well, and the band enjoyed the well earned and much needed cuppa from the Torrington Silver Band, thank you! I think Gemma left a few biscuits behind for the others.

3rd May - Twinning, Hallsannery House

A last minute call from a friendly councillor asking us to cover for the morris men, entertaining the twinning people visiting from Bideford's French twin town Landiviseau. So we rallied around and rustled a band together. It started off as one of those nights, the pipes just didn't want to tune and lots of squeaking reeds and with only a few pipers I had to try and get them tuned as close as possible, after lots of moving reeds about, opening them up a little to try and stop the squeaks, things still weren't good so I had to resort to changing a few reeds, well all but 5 pipers had a different reed in the end and I got there, phew. Now running late we rushed off to the engagement five minutes down the road to find that we had to wait around for while for a few more people to arrive, isn't it always the same, you rush around like the proverbial fly, to find out that you have twenty minutes to wait.

Anyway we played for the French guests and went down well, even got an invite to play over there in two years time. I must say a big thank you to a very nervous PC Jude Cole, stepping in at the last minute on bass drum as I really couldn't spare any pipers.

1st May - Theme Night, Traffic Lights

This was going to be spring night, everyone wearing green or yellow. Then the idea came along to throw in a red and make it traffic light night, pipers wearing red, tenors wearing yellow/orange, side drummers to wear green and anyone else can wear all three colours.
Click here for pictures

5th April - Crealy Adventure Park, Exeter

We were asked if we would like to bring the band long to Devon's Crealy Adventure Park to perform, in return we got free entry to the park and were able to rattle the collecting tins.

We did two performances and were able to have fun in between. Well we had a great day and collected a few pennies.

Click here for few pictures of the day

26th April - St George's Parade Dunster

It looked like for the first time ever we were going to get wet at Dunster, with heavy showers forecast and lots of dark clouds in the sky, but St George must of had a word and we dodged the rain and even had some sunshine.

The band play well, not brilliant but well. Things are always a little rusty for the first full band engagement of the year. At least this year everyone remembered everything and I didn't have to try and think of making makeshift drum slings as we did last year, so everything we smoothly really no dramas to talk about or anything exciting, I suppose this is how every engagement should be.

Thanks to Gubby for making us all a cuppa while the parade was in church.

RANDOM NEWS

The band now has a page on Facebook, "Friends of the Bideford Youth Pipe Band". It's more of a light hearted page where you can leave comments and memories of the band as well as add photos and even laugh at old pictures of band members, past and present.

25th March - Band AGM

Just a formal part of being a band we have to do and it's usually pretty straightforward, everyone was re-elected they even decided I should be Pipe Major for another year. Charlotte Gubb was also presented with a five year long service award by the bands Chieftain Bart Lesslie.

The night also sees the election of our Youth Committee, and this year's elected youth members were - Christopher Cole, Charlotte Gubb, Becky Inch, Emma Inch, Jo Inch and Will Webber. The management committee's elected members were - Dave Crossley, Darren Hooper and Jodie Inch.

13th March - THEME NIGHT - Comic Relief

We dressed up for Children in Need so we thought we should for Red Nose day too, we didn't have a theme, anything goes. For me Steve won the night, as he made me laugh every time I looked at him, but I was really impressed at all the band that joined in and especially the new one's. Oh even Gemma joined in this time with a very sexy schoolgirl, hehe. Click Here for pictures

13th February - THEME NIGHT - Red Night

Well it was close to Valentine's Day so we could of had Love Night but that could of been a little dodgy, so we settled for "Red Night" Click Here for pictures

I do think the young adults of the band could do with trying a little harder please!

7th January - First Band Practice of the Year

I think nearly everyone looks forward to getting back to band after Christmas, back to the old routine and normality after the Christmas and New Year mayhem. I did wonder how many of the new members that came along before Christmas would come back and low and behold most of them did, only lost two, but gained another one on the first night, we must be doing something right.

The first few months of the year always seem hard, lots of hard work and no engagements to do to let off steam. It seems to be the time of the year that people get fed up with each other, must be winter blues or something, all the excitement of Christmas is over and nothing much to look forward to, roll on April and our first engagement. Let's see how many new one's we can get out for then, I can already see real promise in a few of them.