An Aberdeenshire pipe band is preparing to travel to France this weekend to take part in the Battle of the Somme 100th anniversary commemorations.
Newtonhill Pipe Band will travel to Amiens tomorrow to take part in a poignant event organised by the Samarobriva Pipes and Drums.
More than 20 pipe bands from across Europe will perform over the two day event.
The Newtonhill contingent – made up of 19 pipers and drummers aged between nine and 72 – will are one of three Scottish bands taking part.
There will be concerts by each band, a procession of the massed pipe band and the commemorative ceremony at Amiens Cathedral on Saturday and Sunday.
Pipe major Domhnull McLennan said: “Pipe bands have a strong military history and played an important role during WW1.
“It is important that the younger members of the band are aware of the sacrifices which were made by young men all those years ago to maintain the freedoms that we take for granted today; indeed we all have relatives, or know families whose members lives were lost in the battle.”
The band thanked Portlethen and District Rotary Club for their support, which has allowed the trip to go ahead.
Mr McLennan added: “The band could not have made the trip without the generous help of the rotary over the years, and on this occasion it has meant we will have a record number of youngsters with us, who will learn about and see this part of France where this terrible loss of life took place.”
The rotary club was initially able to support the pipe band by donating £2,500 from their local community fund, and then topped that up with a another £1,015 after the band played on behalf of the club at an international maritime conference.
Robbie Middleton, past rotary president, said: “Our rotary club has helped the band from its early days by donating a bass drum, and maces, and this continues our support for a local organisation which continues to teach and nurture local children in our oldest instruments and locally in our military history.”
The band will travel by coach to France via Newcastle and Amsterdam and will return on Tuesday.
