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The Town Centre Partnership (TCP) has organised for the RAF Lossiemouth Pipes and Drums band to perform at various events over the Liberation Day weekend (9-11 May), including the opening two shows of its summer music series.
The 14-piece band, formerly known as the RAF Kinloss Pipe Band which was home to the Guernsey-affiliated No. 201 Squadron RAF, will be performing in St Peter Port at various times throughout Liberation Day (9 May) and collecting, with members of RAFA (the Royal Air Forces Association), for the new Allied Aircrew Memorial at Guernsey Airport.
On the following day, the band will be marching and playing in the town centre, culminating in a performance in Market Square at 12.15pm, supported by Matt and Irene and the Academy of Dance and Theatre, to open the TCP summer music series, consisting of 42 open air concerts on Saturdays and Sundays, sponsored by Brooks Macdonald and the Ana Leaf Foundation respectively.
The band will also perform on the Saturday evening, following a dedication ceremony for the Loafer’s Wall and TCP reception at Guille-Allès Library. Here, they will perform a Beating Retreat in Market Square including the traditional Lament and Last Post as a mark of respect to the fallen. A formal military dinner in the Inner Street will follow for the benefit of the Allied Air Crew Memorial fund.
On Sunday 11 May, the band will play for the congregation of the Church of Scotland, before opening the Sunday concerts of the summer series in Candie Gardens at 3pm, with support from Ashleigh Gardener-Wheeler.
Outside of scheduled performances, the band will also be visiting various hospitality outlets to play and collect for the fund.
John Silvester, chair of the Allied Aircrew Memorial committee, said the band’s dedication to helping this cause was commendable.
‘It is fantastic that the band is making such a huge contribution to our fundraising efforts. We are grateful to them, and the Town Centre Partnership, for creating such a busy schedule of events to support the memorial.
‘The funds raised will help to honour the 139 USAAF, RAF and Commonwealth aircrew who gave their lives to help secure our freedom.’
The Liberation Day and summer concert series performances are all free to attend, with donations kindly received. Members of the public are also invited to attend the Loafer’s Wall ceremony at 6pm and the Beating Retreat at 7.15pm.
Tickets for the formal dinner at 7.45pm are £50 each (tables of 10) and tickets for the Guille-Allès Library reception are £10 each. More information can be obtained by contacting Jack Honeybill, executive officer of Town Centre Partnership at jackhoneybill@hotmail.com; John Silvester, chair of the Allied Aircrew Memorial committee at silvester@cwgsy.net; or Evan Ozanne committee member at evan@cwgsy.net.
