1066 Pipes And Drums

By Camilla LakeEVER wondered what a Scotswoman keeps in her sporran?In Tricia Drawbridge's case, the answer is spectacles, carkeys, lip balm, mobile phone and tissues.

She's a piper in 1066 Pipes And Drums, and the black sporran is part of the traditional outfit she wears while representing the Hastings-based band which is currently looking for new members.

Tricia, of Marlpits Lane in Ninfield, said: "We always need new members because we are a living entity - in other words, we get older and eventually drop off the scale.

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"We will eventually not be able to do it anymore, but having said that I think our oldest member is probably only 66."

The band has 14 pipers, plus 3 learner pipers, 7 drummers and 2 learner drummers, a Drum Major and a Standard Bearer.They meet for practice every Wednesday, using drum pads and chanters, then on Sundays play full pipes and drums.

"We always need new people coming in, but we do have two youngsters, a learner piper and a drummer, and they are both at junior school.

"Another reason we need new members is because when we have a parade, not everybody is always available. They work, they have families, they go on holiday, they are sick...But the more people we have on call, the easier it is."

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Going on parade is an important part of the band's regular activity, in this country and occasionally abroad.

Tricia said: "Personally I found it scary the first time - it has got to be. But then the adrenalin gets going and you just feel good. And I think the way we dress for all our parades means we have a wow-factor, people just look at us and we start to play, and that's it."

The sight of pipers and drummers in No1 kit for parades is an inspiring one, thinks Tricia.

She said: "Being Scottish I have this inborn love of it - I don't know what it means to other people.

"But it is impressive, it is tradition, it is Scotland.

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"I feel supremely proud that I have learned to play the instrument, and that I am continuing my heritage - I am bringing my heritage alive."

She became involved almost by accident in November 2003 when she met Jon Bartholomew who was then Pipe Sergeant of 1066 Pipes And Drums, and also owned the Highland Supplies shop in St Leonards.

Intrigued by the prospect of learning pipe, Tricia bought a practice chanter and attended a session.

"After an evening of squeaks and grunts, from both the chanter and me, I finally managed to play the scale.

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"There followed weeks of perfecting this and learning tunes, playing them over and over and over again, day after day, midst all the frustration which goes along with learning anything new. Six months later and I felt it was time to consider getting some bagpipes."

A personal highlight for her since has been performing at the Menin Gate in Belgium, a famous monument to fallen soldiers - there are 11,952 graves at the cemetery in Tyne Cot., while the names of more than 35,000 servicemen who have no known graves are etched into stone panels.

The 1066 Pipes And Drums musicians had the "utmost honour and privilege" of playing at the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, an event which has taken place every night of the year since November 11 1927 except during war-time.

Tricia said: "It was bitterly cold. I was wandering round the cemetery thinking how cold I was, then I realised many years ago these guys were in trenches, and they were cold, they were hungry and they had been at it for six months. I said - Tricia, I think you should stop moaning."

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1066 Pipers and Drums was founded in 1998 by the late Pipe Major Arthur Jepson who found two learner pipers by advertising locally. He taught and encouraged them until they were able to get their first paying job. This meant they could advertise for more players, and eventually found themselves with half a dozen pipers and a few drummers.

The band has also played in the US, Spain and Belgium, and in Jersey's Battle Of The Flowers parade. It has taken part in the Royal British Legion Beating Retreat at Herstmonceux, and performs regularly at Hastings United Football Club matches in return for the use of its facilities for practice.

"It is the friendliest bunch of people I have ever been with. It is like being in a family, I know it sounds so cliched, but it is. They are a smashing bunch of people. We work hard, we play hard

Anyone interested in joining can contact Tricia who is Band Secretary on 01424 892181, or email [email protected]

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