Drummer and Piper with Adam Caruthers at Castle launch Beating Retreat

 

YOUNG MUSICIANS JOIN VETERANS AT MILITARY PARADE AT EDINBURGH CASTLE

Musicians from the youngest pipe band in the Lothians and a Veteran who is celebrating nearly 50 years of service to charity launched one of the biggest military parades in the Capital.

Piper Caris Grieve, 10, and Drummer Chloe Courtney, 14, from Cockenzie and Port Seton Royal British Legion Scotland Pipe and Drums joined Veteran Adam Caruthers, 79, at Edinburgh Castle to launch the Beating Retreat which takes place this Sunday.

Over 300 musicians from across Scotland will parade in precision drill and swirling tartan colour at the annual Royal British Legion Scotland Beating Retreat by the Massed Pipe and Drums at sundown at Edinburgh Castle Esplanade on Sunday 27 April 2014 at 7pm.

The Royal British Legion Scotland, the country’s biggest membership veterans charity, is calling on people of Edinburgh to show their support at the Beating Retreat to celebrate the year of Homecoming Scotland and help the charity commemorate the centenary of World War One.

Musicians from Cockenzie and Port Seton band will perform with the Royal British Legion Scotland Central Band and a dozen local bands including Edinburgh Central Postal Band at the free event. The Riders branch of the Legion will join the parade on motorbikes along with Scouts, Cadets and scores of Standard Bearers.

Today the Beating Retreat is a major event in the Armed Forces and Royal British Legion Scotland calendar. The Royal British Legion Scotland, which has 170 branches across Scotland, hopes the Beating Retreat will showcase the breadth of talent, diversity and commitment of its bands and members.

Cockenzie and Port Seton Royal British Legion Scotland Pipe and Drums band features musicians from age 7 to 78 and has grown from a few members to over sixty in a few years.

Last year they formed a special band to show the talents of their youngsters and have performed on the CD for backing music for a CD by local opera singer Jamie McBride who has tipped some of the bands youngsters as future stars.

Kevin Gray MM CEO of the Royal British Legion Scotland said, “Pipe bands, scouts, riders and dedicated members of our branches travel from all corners of Scotland to take part in the Beating Retreat. It is a spectacular ceremonial showcase of talent from the Legion.  It’s a great family event and completely free. We hope families from Edinburgh and the Lothians will come and enjoy the experience.”

“We are thrilled to see so many talented youngsters performing in this year’s Beating Retreat. And we are extremely honoured to have the support of veterans like Adam Caruthers, whose commitment as a Standard Bearer has made events like these possible for almost 50 years. It makes us proud to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together to honour the tradition in the true Legion spirit – of comradeship and diversity.

Adam, who served five years in the Scots Guards, celebrates 49 years as a Standard Bearer for the Royal British Legion Scotland this year.

 

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