Donnachaidh awards: young pipers clean up

The Donnachaidh Awards are held each year at The Gaol, Sea Road, the business premises of Edinburgh Bagpipes. Applications from local bands are invited for the use of a top quality set of pipes or drum for one year.

Pat Donoghue is owner of The Gaol, which celebrated its third birthday on Saturday, the same day the awards were given.

She said: "The first year we were in business, my then business partner was a piper. He did a job at Sidley Fete and a young lad came along and really got the bug. Sidley Community Centre and the local police combined forces and bought a set of pipes to use as an award set.

"It's a big step from practicing on a chanter to the pipes. If you spend seven or eight hundred pounds on a set and find you cannot get the technique, then you can't play them and that's very dispiriting.

"This way they can have a chance to try the pipes. After a year they should know whether they will be any good on them, and they can also be saving for a set.

"There are now three sets of pipes available and one seven inch snare drum. This year they are all going to the Robertson Pipe and Drum Academy."

Charlie Bridger, of St Leonards, was inspired to take up drumming after seeing a member of the academy at Rye Bonfire. He was awarded a 7" Premier Snare.

Dale Watts was introduced to the pipes through his school, Buckswood Grove. He has now been playing for two years.

Jorge Gorman was also awarded a set of pipes.

Pipe Major Robert Reid said: "The opportunity they have been given today is a massive one, and could really open the door for them into the pipe band world.

"The talent that we've got in Bexhill is excellent and above anything else in the south east."

The band recently embarked on a fundraising campaign to take them to the first global pipe festival in Edinburgh, which is being held in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care in July 2010.

A parade through the town last month was the first of four that will take place in the coming months, lead by Pipe Major Reid. The money from the parades will be used to take the band to Edinbugh, where they can fundraise on a larger scale.

Pat said: "In Bexhill we raised 400, but if we take the band to Edinburgh each person will have the chance to raise that much."

The group practice each Wednesday night from 7.30pm-9.30pm in St Mary Magdalene's Church Hall. Sessions cost 2. Contact Pat on 211331.