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Policy The RAF Pipe Band Association is the central body which represents its members on those occasions when they are called upon to participate in major public events. RAF Piping & Drumming exposure, both at home and abroad, in providing musical support for RAF ceremonial, social and charitable events continues to gain an increasingly high profile. Such exposure is commensurate with their inclusion as a major RAF Corporate Communications Asset and is aimed at promoting RAF ethos and public image. 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. Their aim is to foster a practical interest in piping and drumming within the RAF, whilst providing a cultural and recreational activity that complements an individual’s prime contribution to the RAF. Located at RAF Kinloss, RAF Leuchars and RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, and at RAF Waddington and RAF Halton in England, it is hoped to form a further pipe band at the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering at RAF Cosford to promote piping and drumming within the RAF and act as a ‘feeder’ band for pipers and drummers as they embark on their Service careers. The RAF’s five pipe bands frequently combine to represent the RAF in State ceremonial or other major public events. The employment of professional Pipe Majors in the RAF has assured the development, ability and standing of RAF piping. 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. Providing musical accompaniment for State and RAF ceremonial at home and abroad, as well as at social and charitable events, assures the inclusion of the RAF’s pipe bands as major RAF display assets, alongside the established military bands. As a piper or drummer in the RAF there are increased opportunities for travel and to perform in high profile events not normally open to other pipe bands. Station bands are often invited to perform overseas in places as varied as Estonia, Guernsey, Russia, USA, Holland, France and the Falkland Islands. Last year, the combined RAF Pipes & Drums performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Opening of the Scottish Parliament by Her Majesty The Queen. More recently, they travelled to Australia to appear in the Sydney Tattoo and represented the RAF at the Isle of Man Tattoo. In the near future, one of our pipers has been invited to accompany the Queen’s Piper at the Ghillies’ Ball at Balmoral in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. A career in the Royal Air Force offers many exciting opportunities not available in the civilian environment; combined with being a RAF piper or drummer, these opportunities are enhanced considerably. If you already play, or would like to take up, the bagpipes or highland drumming, linked to a rewarding career in the Royal Air Force, we would like to hear from you. For further information on the on what the RAF has to offer, visit www.rafcareers.com and www.rafreserves.com The above information is available as a leaflet entitled Piping and Drumming in the Royal Air Force to download as an Acrobat PDF 408kb. |
