News

Boys' Brigade Beat Retreat at Edinburgh Castle

Friday May 12 2017

Two hundred members of The Boys’ Brigade took part in the 60^th Anniversary Beating Retreat at Edinburgh Castle on Saturday (May 6).

BB musicians from Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Fife, Stirling, Dundee and Edinburgh marched from Parliament Square to Edinburgh Castle, performing a short routine on the Castle Esplanade.

They were joined by Major General M L Riddell-Webster CBE DSO, Governor of Edinburgh Castle.

Gavin Ross, 1^st Galashiels company, and member of The Boys’ Brigade’s Central Band, said: "Marching towards Edinburgh castle with the central Scotland band is without a doubt the best experience I have ever had through playing an instrument. The castle makes for such an awe inspiring venue and playing from the balcony looking out over the city is one of the best feelings a musician can have.

“It's an opportunity I would never have gotten had it not been through this band and I am certainly grateful that I have been able to participate in this event."

The event featured the Massed Pipes & Drums, 2^nd Port Glasgow BB Band, Central Band of The Boys' Brigade and 3^rd Johnstone Brigade Band.

It attracted more than 500 spectators over the course of the evening.

Bill Stevenson, CEO of The Boys’ Brigade in the UK and Ireland, said: “What a fantastic evening at Edinburgh Castle with so many talented young musicians. It was particularly fitting to enjoy the 60^th anniversary of Beating Retreat in glorious sunshine.

“Well done to all the bands and especially the team at Edinburgh, Leith and District Battalion.

“Music of all kinds is an important part of the programme in many of our groups. The Beating Retreat is a fantastic spectacle where BB young people really excel.”

The event was organised by the BBs’ Edinburgh, Leith & District Battalion in partnership with Edinburgh Risk Management (General) Ltd.

Beating Retreat is a military ceremony dating back to the 16th century when drums were used as signals in the battlefields. Beating the Retreat was the cue for troops to retreat from battle as light faded.