Bath Christmas Market 2011
Written by Clive Reid Friday, 25 November 2011 15:20
Bath Abbey is becoming a favourite venue for the Bristol City Pipes and Drums. On Thursday the 24th. of November 2011, as part of a program of entertainment to inaugurate the Bath Christmas Market, the band was asked to play the 7 p.m. slot. Under Pipe Major Julian Smart and Leading Tip James McMillan, the ten pipers and six drummers formed a semicircle around Adrian Hart on the bass drum.
The precincts of the Abbey and the neighbouring streets were full of the market stalls and thronged with cheerful tourists and shoppers. We quickly drew a congenial crowd of over 400 souls to the open space in front of the main door. Our audience stayed throughout the performance and applauded generously. At the conclusion of the performance, I was approached by a member of our audience seeking to make a donation to a charity if we were collecting. I am sure this endorsement was an approbation of our performance.
Our program included the following sets. Scotland the Brave, Bonnie Dundee, Wings, Amazing Grace, Highland Laddie and Glendaruel Highlanders. James McMillan and James Cowley supported by Adrian Hart on the bass drum entertained with our now regularly feature, the Drum Salute.
Our own supporting photographers were absent on this occasion so we would welcome any pictures from the many photographers in the crowd.
Members of the Band:
Pipe Major: Julian Smart
Pipers: Di Holl, Siobhan Mullen, Ian Wyllie, Craig Jamieson, Ben Brown, Bill Rivett, Keith Turner, Jack Gibson and Clive Reid
Leading Tip: James McMillan
Drummers: James Cowley, Steve Gillespie, Catherine Hopkins, Kirsty Main-Ellen and Adrian Hart
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