Scotland’s best-known military band is in the midst of its first-ever national tour – and is set to come to Aberdeen after a warm welcome from the local Provost today. The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland is performing at venues across the country as part of its “Walking with Heroes” centenary tour which is aiming to raise tens of thousands of pounds for Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland.
Fresh from another incredible month of spectacular performances at the world-renowned Edinburgh Tattoo, Scotland’s State Band, as it is also known, will be performing at the Beach Ballroom on September 28th. Yesterday, however, members of the Band local to the area joined Aberdeen Provost Barney Crockett and the Poppyscotland team to spread the word about the eagerly anticipated concert.
Lord Provost Crockett said: “It is an honour to welcome the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland to Aberdeen. We are very fortunate that the Beach Ballroom has been chosen as one of the venues for the Band to play on its seven-date centenary tour. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish them well in meeting their fundraising targets for the very deserving Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland.”
Starring in the Beach Ballroom show will be hometown heroes LCpl Mark Angus and LCpl Natalie Mair. Both hail from Aberdeen originally, and the September concert will mark the first time either has performed during their military career in the Granite City.
LCpl Angus, who has played the tuba in various military bands during his 16-year Army career, said: “The last time I performed in Aberdeen was with the brass band at Cults Academy, so I’m really excited to be back home as part of the Walking with Heroes tour.”
LCpl Mair added: “I’m looking forward to having my local fan club – well, my mum, sister and aunties! – coming along to show us their support. It’s going to be a very special night.” LCpl Mair plays the cornet and has recently returned from the Far East where she provided musical and ceremonial support in South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan and Indonesia.
To accompany the centenary tour, there is also a CD – Walking with Heroes – which will commemorate 100 years since the end of The Great War, and honour those that served our nation so valiantly. The programme includes works by such iconic composers as Holst, Shostakovich, John Williams and Karl Jenkins alongside new compositions and arrangements. These include traditional Scottish fayre and feature a whole host of soloists; in particular the unmistakable skirl of the pipes!
Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising, said: “It is a privilege for Poppyscotland to be in partnership with such a talented group of musicians. The tour is providing a great opportunity for music-lovers across the country to experience the unmistakable and memorable sound of Scotland’s State Band. We urge the public to get their hands on tickets for the performance Aberdeen as soon as possible as they are already selling out fast!”
As well as the tour itself, the Band is undertaking another fundraising effort in the form of The 1918 Poppy Pledge. Not only is this a lasting tribute to those who fell in the First World War, but, importantly, will also allow the Poppyscotland to make a step change in the scale of support it is able to provide those in the Armed Forces community who rely on the charity’s support today.
Notes to editors:
- For further information and to arrange an interview, please contact Fraser Bedwell, Head of Marketing at Poppyscotland, on 0131 550 1582 or 07989 419 026, or email at f.bedwell@poppyscotland.org.uk.
- To contact the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Barney Crockett, please get in touch with Stella Evans, Communications Business Adviser, Aberdeen City Council, on 01224 522072, or 07834 198 818, or at sevans@aberdeencity.gov.uk.
- Picture credit: Norman Adams.
- The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland tour schedule is as follows:
Location Venue Address Dates
Aberdeen Beach Ballroom Beach Promenade, AB24 5NR 28th Sept
Inverness Inverness Cathedral 15 Ardross Street, Inverness, IV3 5NS 20th Oct
- The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland is one of the 22 Regular Army bands and is based at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh. It is a symphonic wind band with the additional capability of a Ceilidh band. The main role of the band is to support the Army, the State and Ceremonial occasions that occur within Scotland.
- For more information on The 1918 Poppy Pledge, please visit: www.poppyscotland.org.uk/poppypledge.
- Poppyscotland provides life-changing support to the Armed Forces community. Money raised from the Scottish Poppy Appeal and Poppyscotland’s year-round fundraising enables them to deliver support to members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland by providing tailored funding and assistance. The charity also funds services in advice, employment, housing, mental health, mobility and respite. Please note that we are known as “Poppyscotland”, and not “PoppyScotland” or “Poppy Scotland”. For more information, please visit us at: www.poppyscotland.org.uk.
