Gallery - Gael Pipefest draws big crowd

Pipers came from as far as Switzerland to take part.

As Major General John Moore-Blick told around 50 assembled pipers from the steps of St Richard's Catholic College on Saturday afternoon, the bagpipes are not solely a Scottish phenomenon. They are found wherever British troops serve, have served and have left their dead.

For Gerard Goetti, taking part in the Gael Pipefest, organised by Edinburgh Bagpipe Company partners Pat Donoghue and Tim Hickmott, it was worth travelling from his native Switzerland.

But this had meant diverting via Le Harvre to avoid striking French fishermen blockading other Channel ports.

Pat and Tim had hoped at one stage to have as many as 200 pipers and drummers taking part in the festival.

But as they prepared for Saturday forming-up in the college grounds they told how the 1st Royal Tank Regiment Pipe Band and others had been forced to pull out at the last minute.

However, the Essex Caledonian Pipe Band from Chelmsford were there in force.

Other pipers had travelled from Scotland to take part.

Also taking part were the Essex Pipes And Drums, the Roberts Academy and the Hastings Pipes And Drums.

And as Tim said, 50 pipers still make a magnificent sound.

Gerard Goetti explained what draws pipers to travel long distances to play.

"I love it. I was in Halifax Nova Scotia and in New York and in Edinburgh.

"I am in charge of organising Pipefest Basel in Switzerland in 2009.

"I have been playing for about 20 years - with a break because of business.

"In Switzerland, there are about 12 or 14 pipe bands and it is growing fast.

"In Germany there are a lot of pipe bands - more than 100."

Before taking the salute from the college steps, Major General Moore-Blick had told the kilted assembly that though he was born a Sussex Sassenach at Stonegate, his association with the pipes began when he served in Arbroath.

He had since heard the Scots pipes played all over the world during his career, from San Carlos Water in the Falklands to the Danube and the Elbe.

He hoped that the street collection for Pipefest would raise a lot of money for the three chosen charities SSAFA forces help, Marie Curie Cancer Care and the NSPCC.

Town Mayor Cllr Patrick Douart was accompanied by his wife and Mayoress, Maureen.

He told the visiting pipers the town of Bexhill welcomed them.

The town had a welcome waiting as, preceded by a police escort, the pipers set off - to the sound of Scotland The Brave.

Major General Moore-Blick travelled in a Rolls Royce Phantom sedanca de ville, the Mayor and Mayoress in a Silver Shadow. Volunteers from Raynet provided radio coordination for the event.

Camera-toting spectators lined the processional route along Magdalen Road and down Sea Road to the town centre.

In Devonshire Road where the procession paused a huge crowd swiftly formed to enjoy the spectacle and the music.

There were pauses while hot and thirsty bandsmen paused for a drink of water.

The procession eventually made its way to the top of Galley Hill for the final ceremonial of the Bexhill Gael Pipefest.

Police said later that a good-natured event had passed off without incident.