1066 Pipes & Drums was
founded in 1998 by the Late Pipe Major Arthur Jepson (ex-Scots Guards).
Today the Band is
progressing in leaps and bounds and now has fourteen pipers, three
learners, seven drummers, a Drum Major and a Standard Bearer. The
Standard has been blessed, and we are now a Registered Charity (no.
1106850).
We have played in USA,
Spain and Belgium. For the last four years we have played in Jersey’s
Battle of the Flowers Parade. Last year we took part in the
Army Benevolent Fund Beating Retreat at Herstmonceux Castle with the Band of
the Army Air Corps and the previous year we played there alongside the
Band of the Adjutant General Corps. In January 2006 we were invited to
play at the Menin Gate, having visited and played at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
With the Army Benevolent Fund Beating Retreat at Herstmonceux
Castle
This year we have been
invited to parade at the UAE Technical Project Graduation Day in July,
which means we will be playing in front of Royalty, but at present we
have not been told who (two years ago the Duke of York was the Guest of
Honour!)
At the other end of the
scale we play for our local Football Club’s bigger matches in return for
the use of their facilities for practice, and give displays at fetes and
charity events.
If you are interested in
joining us to learn to play bagpipes or drums (tuition is free!) then
please contact the Secretary, Tricia Drawbridge,
drawbridges@hotmail.com.
Update November 2007
In July the Band
paraded at the United Arab Emirates Technical Project Student
Graduation Day at Little Common, East Sussex. Dignitaries included
Colonel Hareb Al Dhaheri, HRH the Duke of Kent, Lord Lieutenant of
Sussex, High Sheriff of Sussex and several Mayors. Dubai TV were in
attendance. This was a very prestigious Parade for us and it was
extremely well received.
In October we were
very proud to accept the Patronage of Michael Martin MP, Speaker of
the House of Commons. The whole Band travelled to Westminster to
play on Speaker's Green and thus made history by being the first
non-military Band ever to have been allowed to play there. Several
of us were honoured to meet the Speaker in person.
Remembrance Day saw
us playing at the Service in Hastings in pouring rain. Twelve
pipers, seven drummers, Drum Major and Standard Bearer all in No 1
Highland uniform, got absolutely drenched throughout the march to
the War Memorial and back. However, to put it into context, we
suffered for one hour. The old and the bold suffered for four
years.
The Band on Speaker's Green
