Beating Retreat at Inverness Leisure 'a really successful day'

A pipe and drums spectacular held at Inverness Leisure went incredibly well according to organisers.

The Beating Retreat event saw High Life Highland's (HLH) Highland Young Musicians stage a min tattoo.

Norman Bolton, HLH head of music development, said: "It was a really successful day. It's always a bit of a risk when you prepare musicians separately and you have to hope that it all just fits into place, and it did.

"The kids had a great time."

The Beating Retreat is a traditional military parade that dates back to the 1690s when the beating of the drums was used to order troops to withdraw from battle.

Nowadays it is strictly ceremonial and is used in events such as the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and in the monarch's official birthday celebrations.

As well as pipers and drummers, members of Lochaber High School Senior Wind Band, East Highland Concert Band, Inverness Schools Wind Band and HLH’s regional ceilidh band, ’Snas, all performed.

Dancers coached by Cheryl Heggie performed too and the event is already booked to take place again next year.

Mr Bolton added: "We are planning to do bigger each time. It's still basically the same format but more musicians and more dancers."

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