Welcome To Ashbourne & District Pipe Band

For the first time, Ashbourne & District Pipe Band led two parades for the annual Bonnie Prince Charlie re-enactments. The first parade was held on Saturday 1st December starting from a pub called 'The Crewe and Harpur' just beside Swarkestone Bridge. Swarkestone Bridge was the most southerly point the Prince reached on his trek to make his own attempt to put his father on the throne. The band led the parade which went around a small residential part of Swarkestone. The band then peeled off and the rest of the parade (Jacobites) fought with the English on a small field where re-enactments were held.

The second parade was held on Sunday 2nd December starting at Wilmot Street in Derby. The band led the parade through the city centre and came to a halt outside a pub called 'Jorrocks' where a short re-enactment was held. Once it had finished, the parade marched up to Derby Cathedral where the band led the way in, whilst playing, for a short service. Once everyone was in the Cathedral the band exited and marched outside and back down to the pub, where they entered whilst playing. This was where the band finished their part in the parade.

Check out the Images page for the latest picures on the weekend.

On Remembrance Sunday, 11 November 2007, Ashbourne & District Pipe Band travelled to Brereton, Rugeley to lead the remembrance parade once again. Leading the Brereton Royal British Legion Remembrance parade was the first public engagement Ashbourne & District Pipe Band had back in 1978. Although quite chilly, the weather remained fine for the whole parade. The band lead the parade which consisted of; Cubs, Venture Scouts, Veterans, Standard Bearers, Clergy, Armed Forces Members, RAF Cadets and Brownies, along the streets of Brereton up to the Church for the morning service and then back to the memorial cenotaph, where poppies were laid and 2 minutes silence was held. There our Pipe Major, James Dungavel played solo at the Remembrance service. The band then lead the parade back down to Brereton Social Club where the Pipe Band was dismissed. Overall Remembrance Sunday 2007 was a big success, and a tradition we hope to maintain each year.

For the first time, the whole of Ashbourne & District Pipe Band's drum corps went along to Birmingham Fire Service Headquarters to learn some Tenor Drumming from the man himself, Tyler Fry. The event was for two days. On the first day it was mainly for beginners, learning how to tie the strings, hold the sticks etc, and even learnt a basic 6/8 March. On the second day however, things were taken to a much higher level for the more experienced. Everyone learnt more complicated flourishes and learnt the first two parts to a tune called Lord Alexander Kennedy. Whilst they were there the corps really benefited from the weekend, boosting their confidence and getting to grips with tenor drumming. Apart from us being there, other bands were represented by their corps including; Notts Police, West Midlands Police, Grampian Corby, Wolverhampton and a few others. Everyone who attended these days learnt at least something, whether it was new flourishes or even knowledge of Pipe Bands in general as Tyler Fry talked about how tenor drumming came about. We would like to say a big thank-you to the Midlands Branch for organising such a fun event and West Midlands Fire Service for hosting the events, but one thing we cannot forget is to say a big thanks to Tyler.

Please check out the Images page for photos of the weekend.