St Andrew’s Pipe Band 80th D-Day Commemorations 6th June 2024.

We had been asked by Hook with Warsash Primary School to take part in their D-Day Commemoration.

At 10.00 we assembled at the entrance to Strawberry Fields on Newtown Road where we were met by about 400 children, their teachers and some parents from the school. We also met Sara Willoughby, the head teacher, dressed as a naval officer, and marched behind the school onto the field. There the children sat down. Sara told the school that on the day before D-Day there had been hundreds of men camped on Strawberry Fields waiting to go to Normandy. Lord Lovat, who was the commander of the soldiers, had his piper, Bill Millin, with him. Millin had played his pipes to entertain and encourage the men. She said that this was why St Andrew’s had been invited. The children sang ‘We’ll meet again’, the band played and the Reverend Michael led a time of refection.

Then we marched down to the war memorial on the water front with a group from the school. There we played again. Reverend Michael and Sara did another time of reflection followed by one of the children playing the ‘Last Post” on his trumpet and a minute’s silence. Some of the children laid a wreath on the war memorial. The band played again and we dismissed. It was decided that we would end the morning by going for a drink in the Rising Sun. We were welcomed in by the staff and after drinks and a photo we were told the drinks would be ‘on the house’.

Later on in the day we reformed with a slightly larger band at Abbey Hall, Netley. We formed a crescent on the field with our backs to the sea facing the beacon. At 21.00 we played ‘Amazing Grace’ as a wreath was cast into the water. We played a couple of sets and the beacon was lit. This was filmed by the BBC and a clip appeared on ‘News at Ten’. There was a bit of excitement when a couple of bits of burning wood fell out of the beacon basket and landed close to the band. No kilts were harmed during this performance. After another couple of sets we dismissed.

All in all an emotional, proud, satisfying and enjoyable day. Thank you and well done to all those who took part.