Main Ring 2011

The Oxfordshire County & Thame Show are proud to present:

Pipes & Drums RAF Band - Halton

Piping has a firm tradition in the Royal Air Force, going back virtually to the formation of the Service and, together with a wide range of semi-official corps of drums, brass bands and military bands, provided the basis upon which such prestigious bands as the Central Band of the RAF were formed.

Today, the backbone of the RAF's five pipe bands is provided by RAF tradesmen, their officers, and civilian volunteers and are formed on a geographical basis from RAF Stations throughout the United Kingdom.

RAF Halton, just outside Aylesbury, is the oldest of these voluntary pipe bands, and is considered to be the home of piping in the Royal Air Force.

Ever since Halton was No.1 School of Technical Training in the RAF, each of the three wings of aircraft apprentices had their own Pipe Band to march them to and from the workshops each day - from this tradition, the current Halton Pipes and Drums continue to expand.

The RAF's five pipe bands regularly combine to represent the RAF in State ceremonial or other major public events. Indeed, exposure of RAF piping and drumming at home and abroad continues to gain an increasingly high profile and is held in high regard across the piping community. RAF Halton's bandsmen have performed at many high profile events around the world - the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Jools Holland Hootenany (BBC1), a Tattoo in Sydney, Australia, a competition in Belgium, a Tattoo in Holland, a festival in Italy and the International Celtic Music Concert in Bordeaux, France.

The employment of professional Pipe Majors in the RAF has assured the development, ability and standing of RAF piping. Led by Pipe Major Lenny Browne, who hails from Ulster, the majority of today's band members are civilian with a nucleus of RAF personnel, ranging from the more established musicians, to talented up and coming youngsters - all of whom have won awards too numerous to mention here.

The band's tartan, until recently, was Douglas. King George V granted permission for the Royal Air Force to weal Grey Douglas in 1937, and RAF Halton finally adopted Green Douglas in 1968. For the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2004, bandsmen from the five RAF pipe bands were issued with the RAF Tartan for the first time (as seen pictured).

RAF Halton Pipes and Drums practise twice a week at RAF Halton (near Wendover) on Monday and Thursday evenings. New pipers and drummers are always welcome to come along and join in - expert tuition is always at hand. If you think you would be interested in joining the band, email the Pipe Major and take the first step. The opportunities available to pipers and drummers in this band are unique to the RAF voluntary pipe bands.

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