Winter of 1997 saw the Ringwood PB promote its first Tattoo in the City Hall, Salisbury.
I am neither a piper nor drummer (QM) and get bored in the Winter. It occurred to me that
with only practise to look forward to attendance would drop. Our own Tattoo seemed a good
idea to rekindle interest, raise funds, promote Scottish culture locally and give
everyone some memories they would happily recant.
At end of practise one Tuesday, a quickly convened committee meeting gave the nod...
"This won't cost us money..will it?" asked Michael a canny Scot and you have guessed it, the band treasurer!
Not if we all sell our share of tickets was my response!
Who's In?
My next task was to contact the Hampshire Fire and Rescue PB at Eastleigh, a couple of Pipers from Melksham
in North Wiltshire, Salisbury Scottish Country Dance Club, Bournemouth Caledonian Scottish Dancers and the
Roselle Orchard school of Highland Dancers from Bournemouth.
Everyone was "in" and all were immediately planning their items.
The City Hall in Salisbury holds just under 600 people in tiered seating. If you do not need the floor
area for marching etc then this increases to just under 1000. Selling the tickets was my next big hurdle.
Selling Tickets
Tickets were priced at a very competitive £5. The first step was to put some posters up in the City Hall
and around shops in Salisbury. Pipers/Drummers cars were also suitably "postered". In December in the City Hall
was an appearance by the Russian Army Band. I managed to persuade the promoter to let me put a handbill
on every seat. This a) promoted our Tattoo, b) offered a free prize draw for a bottle of Scotch and c)collected lots of names
addresses and phone nos. for future contact. Later that month The Band of the Royal Marines was promoted by the City Hall themselves.
They allowed me the same privilege.
It is true to say our end of January timing was perfect for this purpose and
it also enabled us to have a "Burns Special". The City Hall helped promote our
event when doing their own thing and this was also a help. The great news was that we sold out!
The Night
The Military & Massed Pipe Bands
The entry of the Wessex Military Band signalled the start of the Tattoo. Ten minutes of rousing military marches and
they were warmly applauded for their opener. Our commentator announced the massed Pipes & Drums and with a
piercing command from D/M Joe MacDonald the drones lept into action. The first bars of "Cock of the North"
immediately stirred the audience into spontaneous applause followed by rhythmic hand clapping. Those first marches set
the pattern for the rest of the evening. We knew we were on a winner.
The Dancers
The Scottish Country Dancers from Salisbury & Bournemouth Caledonia danced with joy and this again was picked up
by the audience. Further sets by the Military and pipe bands signalled the arrival of the Highland Dancers. Twelve
dancers, from the Orchard School of Highland Dancing demonstrated the Highland Fling and Sword Dance. Although
most were premier dancers the oohs and aahs were reserved for the "babies" doing Pas-deBasques and Highcuts. A
classy display by the group received rapturous applause and appreciation.
Burns Tribute
The massed pipe pands returned to perform a tribute to Robert Burns to commemorate the anniversary of his death in
1796 (artistic licence!) The audeience then witnessed the addressing of the haggis by none other than the man himself at
well over 200 years old. Rabbie himself commented that "I could'nae miss the opportunity of a guid whisky and
welcome from the guid people of Salisbury".With this the first half ended as the pipes led off to Highland Laddie.
Second Half - Retreat
The Stage curtains opened to reveal the Wessex Military Band playing a medley entitled "Fame & Glory".
They remained on stage when their medley ended and were joined by the massed pipes & drums playing Green Hills and The Battle's O'er.
The Country Dancers followed and they too were joined by the Highland Dancers for a combined dancing display.
Every performer (bar one) was now out front and the spectacle was a glorious sight indeed!
The entire massed bands berformed Going Home, My Home and Skye Boat song.Followed by Highland Cathedral, Ode to Joy
and Amazing Grace. Much emotion! The next set was the Military Band playing Pomp & Circumstance/Land of Hope & Glory,
The evening Hymn and Last Post.
Then all the house lights were extinguished and the spot light picked up Iain McNeill our ex-grade1 piper who acted as
the lone piper for the evening. "Braigh Loch Lall" (Shores of Locheil) was Iain's chosen Gaelic Air.
The National Anthem, Auld Lang Syne & Scotland the Brave followed with the curtains finally closing on the Military band as
Scotland the Brave sounded. Then the nmassed pipes played We're no awa to bide awa and led the march off to
Black bear. The audience had clapped and cheered and sang at every opportunity
and the finale was no different. Rabbie Burns had taken the salute and doffed his hat in style.
On the way out the audience were all excitedly talking about their evening and how much they had
enjoyed the spectacle. The City Hall management and stewards all said that it was the best night
they had ever had. Upstairs in the changing area the performers were also smiling and
talking about their own experience. It is feedback like that that made my own evening and made it all worthwhile.
Ian McLennan
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