Pipes and Drum Spectacular for City Centre
On Saturday (5 April) the city centre of Inverness will resound to the sound of pipes and drums when 120 Cadet Forces Pipers and Drummers will perform a ‘Beating Retreat’ outside the Town House at 7pm.
This event will be the highlight of an intensive training week at Cameron Barracks for the young cadets who come from all over the British Isles to receive extra expert tuition from the Regular and Territorial Army, the Universities Officer Training Corps and the Cadet Forces.
Provost Bob Wynd, accompanied by Brigadier David Allfrey, 51 (Scottish) Brigade Commander, will accept the salute outside the Town House and then host a reception for the musicians.
Provost Wynd said: “We are delighted that the Cadet Force chose to come to Inverness for their tuition week and have taken the time to stage a ‘Beating Retreat’. It will be a wonderful sight and sound when the band of 120 Cadets marches down the High Street. I encourage as many people as possible to come along to enjoy the spectacle of what will be a rousing performance.”
As the Cadets rehearse for their public performance on Saturday, one of the organisers, Jim Stout said: “We are deeply grateful to the Provost and the people of Inverness for allowing the Cadets to show off their skills learnt on their seven day tuition course. Our motto is ‘To Inspire to Achieve’ and the expert tuition they have received from world-class instructors, has certainly helped the Cadets to maximise their potential.”
Audiences will be entertained by members of nine battalions of the Army Cadet Force including Cadets from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Highlanders ACF. Members of the Air Training Corps and Sea Cadets Corps will also be on parade.
Beating Retreat come from the French word ‘Retraite’ and was used by all European armies at the end of the days work and it has no connection with the tactical manoeuvre of the same name. After the daily drill or training, troops dispersed to look after their personal needs such as cooking meals, collecting wood and water and foraging for supplies. At the close of the working day the Retreat was beaten by drummers as the order to return to camp for the roll call. The gates of the town or fortress were closed for the night and sentries began challenging anybody who approached their posts.
Nowadays the Retreat has two functions. It is still used for mounting the night guard each evening and in its ceremonial form, it is an occasion when the pipes and drums can put on a musical display for spectators.