The Beginning

The Pipes and Drums of RAF Leuchars is one of the oldest Pipe bands within the Royal Air Force and we believe they originated from RAF Edzell in approximately 1947 when Edzell was handed over to the USAF; most of the Edzell Pipe Band was posted north to RAF Kinloss and the remainder to RAF Leuchars. We do know that in 1948, the Leuchars Pipes and Drums were split further, with half the band remaining at Leuchars, whilst the other half moved to RAF Netheravon.

During the early years the RAF Leuchars Pipes and Drums wore No2 working dress uniform until the mid 1950’s after which the first Red Macgregor kilts were purchased, having been adopted by a former RAF Leuchars Station Commander. The RAF No2 (hairy blue) battle dress jacket was still worn for a number of years until the purchase of highland dress doublets. As funding was not made available by the RAF for voluntary bands until much later, items of highland uniform would have been purchased at the personal expense of each member of the band, along with their pipes. Drums and Maces were presented to the band initially from the Officers and Sergeants Mess or Squadrons. This practice ceased in the late 1960’s when uniform and equipment was purchased from funds accrued from paid engagements. This is more or less still the case today apart from we are now given an RAF grant for instrument maintenance.

Present Day

RAF Leuchars Pipers and Drummers are not regular bandsmen, but volunteers from all ranks and trades comprising of groundcrew from 43, 56 and 111 Fighter Squadrons, Support Personnel and local civilian personnel. With assistance from Pipe Major Ian Hughes and Mr Sandy Bayne (Drumming Instructor), the band endeavours to preserve and encourage the piping and drumming traditions of the Royal Air Force.

The Pipes and Drums perform at numerous engagements throughout the year both at home and abroad. Engagements include Ceremonial parades, Charity engagements, Highland Games and competitions. The band performs regularly at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the 2006 Tattoo was their ninth appearance, their next appearance will be the RAF “Lead Year” in 2009. They also appeared at the Edinburgh Tattoo “Salute to Australia” held in Sydney in 2005. Last year proved to another busy year for the band with performances in Gibraltar, Switzerland, Russia (Moscow) and Holland as well as a full competing season. The band is currently working up for the 2008 season with two overseas engagements already in the diary, the Queen’s Birthday Parade and RAFA Concert in Gibraltar and the Basel International Tattoo. Because of the forthcoming commitment to the 2009 Edinburgh Tattoo the band hopes to compete more this year, striving for that up-grading.

The Royal Air Force tartan worn by the band was initially endorsed by the Airforce Board in 2004 for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and other RAF ceremonial engagements. The RAF Leuchars Pipes and Drums opted to change from the Red Macgregor Tartan to the RAF Tartan in 2006 to ease uniform maintenance costs and storage space.

In November 2007 SELEX GALILEO kindly agreed to sponsor the RAF Leuchars Pipes and Drums and both parties are looking forward to supporting each other in the years ahead. SELEX GALILEO is part of the Finmeccanica Defence Electronics sector and is based in the UK, Italy and the United States and is responsible for the manufacture and supply of airborne systems to the Royal Air Force.

The SELEX GALILEO logo can be seen on the Pipes and Drums Bass Drum below the RAF Leuchars station crest.