A Banbury pipe band has had a fantastic August, playing The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Balmoral Castle, Holyrood Palace and soon – the moon!

Four members of the Laidlaw Memorial (Banbury and District) Pipe Band have been among the spectacular displays at Tattoo.

The event is described as an experience like no other. Held at Edinburgh Castle, it brings together the best of British Military with international performances from a global cast.

The extravaganza provides emotionally charged entertainment featuring cutting edge lighting, sound and military precision.

Members of the Laidlaw Memorial Pipe Band - with Pipe Major Richard Jasper, second left

placeholder image — Members of the Laidlaw Memorial Pipe Band - with Pipe Major Richard Jasper, second left

The Laidlaw Memorial Pipe Band had four pipers at the event – Pipe Major Richard Jasper with pipers Andrew Williams, Bronwyn Haywood and Andres Castro Signores.

The group also performed at Holyrood Palace and Balmoral Castle during a stay in Scotland that encompassed a week of rehearsals and a demanding three weeks of shows.

“Our pipe band brings together musicians from Banbury and beyond. We perform at public events, competitions and parades, proudly representing our Scottish heritage,” said Pipe Major Jasper.

“We wear the Royal Stewart tartan in tribute to both John and Daniel Laidlaw VC, who wore the same tartan during their military service.

The pipers played at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo but also at Balmoral Castle and Holyrood Palace

"We will return home to the band where we are soon to make a recording of the ‘Pipes and Drums’ to go up in to space.”

The band has joined forces with Lonestar Data Holdings to store their music on the Moon. Their traditional Scottish music, to be recorded in the coming weeks, is to be uploaded as digital recordings onto a lunar server.

Banbury and District – Laidlaw Memorial Pipes and Drums was formed in 1961 by John ‘Jock’ Laidlaw, a former piper of The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders and holder of the Burma Star medal. Jock is believed to have been the last piper to play into action in World War II, during the Burma campaign.

Jock was nephew of Daniel Laidlaw VC – the legendary ‘Piper of Loos’ – of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers.

Daniel Laidlaw was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery at the Battle of Loos in 1915, where he famously mounted the parapet and played his company into battle under heavy fire, boosting morale and leading the charge until he was wounded.

The band plays on November 8 at the Brackley and Middleton Cheney Remembrance parades.