Blown away by bagpipes

The event was organised by the Edinburgh Bagpipe Company, which is based in Sea Road, and was to publicise the work of its academy which nurtures young talent but was also a taster for the upcoming Pipefest which will be a massed band parade through Bexhill on Saturday May 24.

Owner Pat Donoghue said: "The evening was absolutely brilliant. We were packed to the gunnels. We were expecting around 50 people so we laid tables out figuring if just 30 or 40 came they could spread themselves out. But we ended up with every table absolutely packed and people sitting in chairs in rows at the back of the hall."

The entire pipe academy performed at the concert which included highlights such as a duet between young brothers George and Tom Curd on pipes and drum, and a "phenomenally difficult" piece played by Pipe

Major Robert Reid and Pipe Sargeant Hamilton Bracken who played out a conversation on their pipes. Pat herself impressed the audience with poetry, and 'Rab' Reid entertained with an informative and amusing talk about the history of bagpiping and how the instrument came about.

Several awards were made - junior piper Toby MacDonald received a certificate for Deportment, while Most Improved Piper went to junior piper Chris Evans, and Most Improved Drummer was given to George Curd - he then passed on the drum presented to him as a promising talent to fellow band member George Crittenden that night.

The concert was attended by Town Mayor Councillor Paul Lendon, plus consort, as well as former Mayor Eric Armstrong and his wife Jeanette, and current Deputy, Councillor Patrick Dewart.

Pat commented: "They couldn't stop enthusing about it. I think it went extremely well and we have had feedback and comments from people that they enjoyed the poetry and humour of the event as well as the children playing and everybody else."