Direct from Charlie Martin…

Well, I’m down to the final three performances so will pass on a couple more pictures.

Here are some pictures of me in front of the Scottish National War Memorial at the top of Edinburgh Castle.  A very moving place to visit if you have a chance and housing books of remembrance from wars past.

The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (REMT) forms three files of the 12 that make up the massed pipes and drums.  My file is flanked by the 1st Batt. Scots Guards and the Royal Gurkha Rifles.

The Pipes & Drums of the REMT is a civilian band (though many have military experience) that has representation of 16 countries from around the world.  Quite a testament to how piping is now an international phenomena. I’m told that there were over 140 musicians who auditioned for the band of 75.

The other military bands are from the Irish Guards, The Royal Irish Rgt, the Royal Tanks Rgt., Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry.  From the US, the band and pipes & Drums of the Citadel Military School.   The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police represent Canada very well.  Australia is very well represented by two files from the Brisbane Boys School and one by Australian Police Federation.

The Theme of the Tattoo this year is centered around the navy so the band of the Royal Marines is front and center.  The combined bands of the United States Marine Corps and Navy also play key roles along with the US Navy’s Honor Guard and drill team.

Personally, this has been an overwhelming thrill to be part of.  It is, of course, a huge theatrical production with all the mechanics that go with such a production. But, most of all, this has been a great meeting of like-minded pipers/drummers who come together from all over the world to produce one of the world’s truly magnificent shows.

Cheers for now!
Charlie