RNPS

On Monday 31st October the RNPS played at the the request of their President for the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights at a banquet held at the Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London. Sir Jock was presiding as Deputy Prime Warden on behalf of the Prince of Wales, the Prime Warden and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was the Guest of Honour. The Lord Mayor, Alderman Michael Bear was also present and some 400 were dining.

Sir Jock came up with the idea of a surprise entrance and performance of the RNPS about a year before the event and we brought it to fruition with some detailed planning with about two months to go. There was no opportunity for a rehearsal but a strict timetable within the bounds of the dinner was to be met so there was a great deal of discussion with the office of the Shipwrights and Sir jock to get the execution right. Our aim was to involve a broad spread of the Society at least cost but to rely on expertise to overcome the lack of rehearsal. The team finally gelled within the the week before the event with 8 pipers and 4 drummers: Campbell de Burgh (acting as P/M for the event), Ian Kempsell from Plymouth, Irene Robinson from Poole, John Haynes and his son Robert from London, Bill Gass from Bristol and Paddy Grayell, Pete Jones, Alan Foggie, Mark Snell, Gillian Wood and Ron Naden from Portsmouth.

The day arrived and the Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth contingent met at Paddy's house for the minbus trip up to London arriving at the Mansion House at the same time as the resident London team. Bill made it shortly after. We were treated to a sit down supper and within the hour were ready for the grand entrance after a group photograph. Deli (Mark snell) Ron and and Campbell had managed to get a birdseye view of the layout in the Egyptian Hall from the minstrel's gallery. This helped to overcome Sir Jock's fears of drummers unable to work their way down through the diners whilst the pipers processed round the sides to meet behind Sir Jock at the top table. Again, due to lack of rehearsal and the dangers of timing we chose well known tunes to march in, play static and march out. Placing the tenors in the middle of the diners and between the pipers and the bass and side worked well for beat and timing and also gave a bit of extra movement to the performance with all their flourishes. Campbell took a quaich from Sir Jock at the end of the static and the team were treated to a couple of bottles of the fine stuff on completion.

A great night out and as Sir Jock said in his letter to us afterwards "a memorable first for the RNPS ". Photos below taken by Gerald Sharp Photography of Ilford, Essex. Click on the image to get a bigger picture.

and some more taken less formally