Beating Retreat at Edinburgh Castle
Wednesday 11th May 2016Nearly 200 musicians from across Great Britain played in The Boys’ Brigade’s 59th Beating Retreat on Saturday 7th May at Edinburgh Castle. The event featured the Massed Pipes & Drums, 10th Leith BB Band, Central Band of The Boys’ Brigade and Bugles & Drums of The Stedfast Association; and saw them march from Parliament Square to Edinburgh Castle, performing a short routine on the Castle Esplanade.
The event attracted around 500 spectators over the course of the evening, to watch bands from across Great Britain perform. The bands performed for Colonel Donald G Ross OBE, retired British Army officer; and Alistair Burrow, Vice President of The Boys’ Brigade UK & RoI.
Ben, member of 25th Stirling (Dunblane) Company said:
“It’s a privilege to be invited to play in front of such a historic landmark.”
Lachlan, member of 44th Dundee Company added:
“It makes me feel proud to be Scottish playing in front of Edinburgh Castle and seeing everyone watching me.
“[By being part of a band] it’s helped me to work as part of a team and improve my musical talents.”
Beating Retreat is a military ceremony dating back to the 16th century when drums were used as signals in the battlefields. Beating the Retreat was the cue for troops to retreat from battle as light faded.
Congratulations to everyone involved in yet another spectacular event.
Tags: bands
[…] ceremonies such as the Guard of Honour for the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly or the BB Beating Retreat at Edinburgh Castle, where we mix with other bands. This allows us to meet and talk to new people, make new friends and […]