Remembrance concert

This was the feedback given to organiser Pat Donoghue, of Edinburgh Bagpipe Company, who as Robertson Academy band manager put the event together.

The concert, which was attended by Town Mayor Councillor Patrick Douart, featured a guest appearance by two serving soldiers from the 1st Royal Tank Regiment, who were Drum Major Ian MacKecknie and Corporal Davie Kelly. Corporal Kelly also played a "beautiful" rendition of Flowers Of The Forest to close the show.

Pat Donoghue said: "Our other invited guests, both female vocalists and the flautist gave us some delightful songs and tunes which had the audience joining in with old favourites, Wild Mountain Thyme and Flower of Scotland.

"The guitar accompanyment was not only a musical delight but all who were there know it also included some inadvertant humour.

"The whole evening was particularly special as many of the audience were veterans, and with seven of the 1st Tank Regiment there too it was a real opportunity for everyone else to share in the bands' tribute to the men and women of our armed forces.

"The blessing was by Father David King from St Mary Magdalene Church and with the standards of the Royal Navy, the Royal British Legion and the RAF, the night was an enjoyable but moving reminder of those to whom we all owe so much, both from past conflicts and current ones.

"The band would like to extend their grateful thanks to all the performers, Graham Dawson and his trio, Lesley Van Egmond, the 1st Royal Tank regiment pipe band and to all who really broke a sweat helping to set up the hall and run the canteen for the buffet, but our biggest thanks go to the fabulous people of Bexhill who came again and supported the town's very own pipe band.

"With every seat taken and people standing packed at the back, we realise we need a bigger venue for the next one. Almost 600 was raised to assist the band in the purchase of uniform and instruments, and also for our next important aim as a band, to afford to bring a PDQB examiner to the town in the New Year, allowing band members to have top quality tuition followed by the exams for piper's and drummers through a recognised authority, thereby ensuring that the students at the Robertson Academy are playing and performing to much higher standards than previously seen in the area.

"Thank you again to the fantastic audience, with folk travelling from as far away as Middleton, and Littlehampton in West Sussex - we must be doing something right. Roll on the next one and of course the 2009 Gael Pipefest is set to go on May 30 and will set Bexhill on the piping map again."