A long lost badge.

I have been trying to sort out all sorts of bits and bobs in the past few weeks and I found this in my mission to chuck out truck loads of 'truc'. It's the badge that was on my arm when I was a Boy Entrant joining the R.A.F. at the rare old age of 16! I was a piper in the band for about 14 months of those 18 months training to become an aircraft electriction and it's been hidden for all of that time!

I have been trying to think how to present it and a bit earlier today I saw a 'book mark' that I had cut years back that I thought would do the job? Both the book mark and the base are tiny bits of Russian olive, a false olive with HUGE thorns, that was growing in our garden.



The bedge is just about 2 1/2" high. It don't arf bring back some memories, including playing as the lead to the 11th Nov 1961 parade through Cardiff and playing in the 1/2 time at an international football match at the Cardiff City Stadium.. I bever was very good, but it waas a fantastic experience. I still have my practice chanter. It seemed to stick to me when I left St Athans, South Wales, to join the real world

I knew there was a reason I liked you. Gotta love anybody that's a piper.

I've always loved that instrument. I must admit though in the wrong hands it sounds absolutely miserable.

That looks amazing and such a wonderful story - thank you for sharing.

Lisa

Love it! Love it!

My Lancashire Grandmother who raised me told me many, many times:-

'Never trust a man in a skirt' According to Grandma the last good politician was the Roman Emperor Hadrian who built a wall across Britain to keep that lot out!!!!

I may well have been your worst nightmare SD, but it was such good fun and an amazing experience. We were taught by one of the 'Boys' who was the Eire junior pipe champion at he time.

I have always loved the pipes and have always wanted to make a set for myself? I hope, for my neighbours sake, that I never do, but I might!



That's me and please don't look a the socks. They have been mentioned a couple (of cozen) times before!!

Edit : - Our posts crossed Harry and there's NO WAY that I'm going to mention about building walls! (I wonder if Hadrian paid for that one? ;D;D;D )

Hi John - thanks for the great posts of your badge & pic all dressed up - enjoyed! We have a Fiddle & Bow Society in my town (Winston Salem, NC) established in 1981 - we attended many events in the 80s & 90s - then mainly British Isles groups and other American ones - bought a lot of CDs back then and 'pipes' (i.e. the smaller ones usually) were featured - have not brought out that collection in a while - need to revisit! Dave

Irish Pipe Major - Performing at Cardiff Arms Park? Wow here is poor me thinking the pipes were an Irish invention given to the Scots as a bad joke.

We had an Scottish Pipe Band next to the Military Police Office at an Australian Military Base up rehearsing at 5.30am. We got square with them headlights, sirens, flashing lights at the end of the 2am patrol!