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Cobbled together by Campbell de Burgh
Nigel leading, Irene centre and Paddy behind Irene, Campbell to the right The New York City Tartan Parade is normally held at the end of Tartan Week but this year it was split by Easter and held on Saturday 14th April. It is attended by a wide variety of Scottish Organisations and bands and invitation is always open for pipers and drummers from all over the world to help swell the ranks. Paddy Grayell had been before and was to be there anyway for a family wedding and David Maitland was co-incidentally there on holiday with his family. Andy Morrow was there with other members of the Cornwall Caledonian Pipes and Drums. Irene Robinson, Nigel Ball and Campbell de Burgh from the Ringwood Pipes and Drums decided it would make a good gig and break. Apart from the one day for the parade the weather was not kind - New York recorded the most rain for 101 years! However parade day was clear and bright and we met Paddy early at O'Briens pub on 46th Street to work out final arrangements. We had been allocated groups to join but it seemed better if we all kept together. Nigel's drum failed to materialise so he became the RNPS standard bearer with a large white ensign provided by Paddy on a stick provided by the pub and we joined the assembling mass of players at 1300 on the corner of 45th street and 6th Avenue. After a bit of discussion with the parade marshals and a claim of long kinship with the P/M of the Jedburgh British Legion Band we joined up with them and the Locust Valley USA Gordon Highlanders Band except for Andy Morrow who had made arrangements to play with the Prince Albert Pipes and Drums from Saskatchewan, Canada.
Andy Morrow and the Prince Albert Pipes and Drums The parade was set to run from 45th street along 6th Avenue to the point where 6th Avenue met Central Park - only a few hundred metres - a doddle for Cologne addicts. It was a fantastic feeling, marching up 6th Avenue with 1800 participants, a good crowd and in bright sunshine, but all too short. The ceilidh afterwards was great fun with wild drumming and piping by Albannach and the music of Mac Talla Mor and Scocha to listen and dance to. A great weekend looked after by superb hosts and mixed in with some traditional sightseeing including cupcakes from Bleeker St in Greenwich Village, cheesecake from Juniors, oysters in Grand Central station, lots of Irish pubs and some real ale in the Bowery. Never mind the weather, we all had a good time.
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