Pipebandneeds freshblood

It is a Perthshire institution which has provided a suitably Scottish soundtrack to scores of community events for decades.

And Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Pipe Band has appealed to the next generation of budding musicians to help bolster its ranks.

Younger members gather from 6pm to 7pm on Thursdays at the A Proctor Group premises on Blairgowrie’s Dunkeld Road, with older participants meeting from 7pm to 9pm on the same day at the same location.

Free tuition is on offer on pipes and drums and no previous experience or equipment is required.

Band secretary Rose Patterson said all ages would be made welcome.

Formed in 1970 and with Brigadier Melville Jameson as its current president, the group performs at a wide variety of events locally and further afield – such as Blairgowrie Highland Gathering and Braemar Gathering – and also enjoys a twinning link with Aschaffenburg in Germany.

Rose said the current recruitment drive was with a view to making sure the band was sufficient in numbers to fulfil its variety of commitments.

She continued:“It’s really good fun being in the band – you get to travel the country with a group of like-minded people, making friends, and we’re also planning a trip to Aschaffenburg, so there’s scope for going abroad too.

“It’s a good chance for people to expand their repertoire and learn a musical instrument. It also teaches a degree of discipline and playing the pipes is actually quite good for your lungs and fitness.

“People love hearing the band and would be gutted if it was to close but it might be getting to that stage if we don’t attract new faces.”

• Call Rose on 07484707788 for more information.