News 2009

Service of Remembrance
On November 8, 2009 at the cemetery Westduin in The Hague the Service of Remembrance was held.

Airborne Commemoration
In the weekend of 18, 19 and 20 September the 65th Airborne commemoration took place in Arnhem, Ede and Oosterbeek.

Basel Tattoo 2009
This year the Basel Tattoo was held for the fourth time. We were extremely honoured to receive once again an invitation.

Together with a few members of the Red Hackle Pipe band from Antwerp, we travelled towards this grant spectacle. The massed Pipes & Drums consisted of about 200 musicians from different countries among which the Royal Army of Oman Pipes & Drums from Oman, see group picture.

It was a great surprise to see that the organisation of the Basel Tatto had spread large posters througout Basel with a picture of our Drum Major George Alblas.

It was another fantastic experience, which we will remember with great pleasure. On youtube several videos of the tattoo can be found, but also from the street parade which this year was held in combination with Pipefest.

Regional Veterans day Harderwijk
At the Regional Veterans day in Harderwijk, held on July 4th, we performed in a street parade together with the The Seaforth Highlanders of Holland. In the evening a concert was held at the Market Town in Harderwijk, where we combined a few tunes with The Band of Liberation.

Veterans day The Hague
On June 27, 2009 the fifth Veterans day in The Hague was held. In a massed band with The Seaforth Highlanders of Holland and The Drums & Pipes Police Maastricht we took of for a street parade through The Hague. On the Malieveld we had a short break after which we returned by using a different route to the starting point. In the evening we participated in a Tattoo that was held near the town hall.

Street parade Renkum
On June 20, 2009 Excelsior Renkum celebrated her 75th anniversary with a Street Parade through Renkum.
Departing from sports centre "De Rijnkom" several regional bands began the parade to finally arrive, through different routes, at the Don Bosco school.
From there the march past began, ending on the “Europaplein”. On the Europaplein the combined finale took place, where amongst others, Highland Cathedral was performed. It was a pleasant day that was well cared for by the organisation.

"Flag day"
On June 13, 2009 "Vlaggetjesdag" ("flag day") took place in Scheveningen (Holland). On "Vlaggetjesdag" the arrival of the first herring (Hollandse Nieuwe) is celebrated. The dock area in Scheveningen and several fishing boats are decorated with flags. The first barrel of herring is sold at an auction and the proceeds go to charity. This year the event attracted 300.000 visitors.

At the dock area in Scheveningen we participated in a Tattoo, with amongst others The Band of Liberation, Show- and brass band M.E.T.R.O. and musical society St. Jeanne d' Arc.

Normandy
On June 6, 2009 it was exactly 65 years ago that the invasion in Normandy marked the beginning of the liberation of West Europe. This year, this important D-Day was grand remembered. Together with members of the Band of Liberation and members of The Royal Artillery and The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) we were amongst others in Ranville at the Pegasus Bridge.

25th anniversary The Royal Brititsh Legion, Amsterdam Branch
On May 30th, The Royal British Legion, Amsterdam Branch celebrated her 25th anniversary in the English Church in Amsterdam. Time for a little party. After bringing in the Standard, a small delegation of our Pipe band held a short performance. After listening to some speeches, the guests took a boat trip through the canals of Amsterdam . Back on shore an organ recital was given in the English Church. The successful day was ended with a social drink.

Wageningen
On May 5th 2009 the annual March Past in Wageningen (The Netherlands) was held. We escorted the Standards of The Royal British Legion.

Batavieren race
Friday night the 24th of April in Nijmegen at 00.00 hours the 37th Batavierenrace, the world's largest relay, went ahead. We were there to "warm up" the runners for the race.

February 2009: BZT show
The Highland bagpipe is a difficult instrument to play and it takes a lot of effort and perseverance to play the bagpipe well. Bram has brought forward a wish at the BZT show to make his father Henk play the bagpipe within just one hour. We were invited to fulfill Bram's wish. An impossible task?, see for yourself (in Dutch).