Highland fling

April 20, 2016
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Sixteen Air Cadets from Scotland & Northern Ireland and 10 from the London & South East (LASER) Regions, along with one playing staff member from LASER and supported by six other staff members, attended the annual Combined Cadet Forces’ Piping and Drumming Concentration at Cameron Barracks, Inverness. 

Cadets from the Tri-services come from across the UK every year for tuition at the barracks, the original home of Army piping with the first Army classes run by the Piobaireachd Society in 1910.

As well as undergoing training and instruction for Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board qualifications, the massed band of 80 Pipers and Drummers Beat Retreat through Dingwall on 8 April. The town’s first Beating the Retreat took place in 2006 and is now an annual fixture. The cadets massed outside the Royal British Legion where the salute was taken by the Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh, Mrs Janet Bowen. They then entertained the public with a retreat programme.

As a culmination of a hard week of training and assessments, the massed band performed a concert in the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness the following evening. The concert – which paid a moving tribute to the fallen at the Battle of the Somme – was sold out and the band comprising cadets from all three Cadet Forces received a standing ovation from a very appreciative audience.

Attendance at the concentration has improved the skills of all cadets, but of particular note was Cadet Corporal Marcus Huby, of 423 (Elgin) Squadron, who was presented with the medal for the top Intermediate Tenor Drummer by Lt Col Al Steele, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (The Black Watch). Cpl Huby was also selected to play in the tri-service massed band for the first time and joined 22 other Air Cadets in the band.

The concentration also represented the final assessment of a BTEC in music for some of the those attending, the final assessment being carried out by Wing Commander Gil Singleton, Principal Director of Music, who along with Warrant Officer Mike Jeffries, the Corps’ Bandmaster visited the concentration. Wg Cdr Singleton also presented a number of silver and gold piping and drumming badges.

This was another highly-successful Concentration for all of the Air Cadets attending, many attaining significant achievements throughout the week, and much credit should go to the training team, comprising ACF, OTC and RAF instructors under the command of Major Ross Munro, who delivered an incredible week of training and music.

Cadets outside Cameron Barracks, Inverness.

Cadets outside Cameron Barracks, Inverness.

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The Cadets training at Cameron Barracks.

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The Cadets march through Dingwall.

The Cadets march through Dingwall.

The Cadets march through Dingwall.

The Cadets march through Dingwall.

Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh, Mrs Janet Bowen.

Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh, Mrs Janet Bowen.

The Lord Lieutenant takes the salute from the cadets.

The Lord Lieutenant takes the salute from the Cadets.

The Lord Lieutenant takes the salute from the cadets.

The Lord Lieutenant takes the salute from the Cadets.

The Cadets on stage at the Eden Court Theatre.

The Cadets on stage at the Eden Court Theatre.