ViperPiper's Bagpipe Tunes

Thought people might like this picture of a small group of the Castle Pipers (as in Elephant and Castle) supporting the march to protect public sector pensions eighteen months ago. The photo was taken by by Duncan Robertson. I'm at the back on the right without a saffron kilt.

Greg[/img]

The girl piper is Louise,she used to play for the pipe band I first started with as a drummer, she also used to be a drummer.

Her and her sister Joanne some times play for the 2nd band I'm in.

The guy to her left can't think of his name, used to play for the London Irish Rifles Regimental Pipe Band lol I used to be lead tip for them too lol.


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Both Lou and Johanna play in the Castle Pipers - Johanna runs the band although I insist on calling it an ensemble. The other piper is Jerry and the drummer you can't see is Jamie, who also plays in the London Scottish. There's quite a few more, but they couldn't make the march on the day.

Greg

What demonstration were you at, lol, I can see a sign in the background , otherwise, nice picture!

Resized

The march was a joint effort by TUC and the National Pensioners' Campaign. Basically we didn't see why we should pay into a pension for tenty years or more and then not get what we've paid for. Teachers (ie my union - NASUWT) were successful and we keep our existing arrangements although new people get a new scheme. Other public sector workers got left out of the agreement somehow, so there's going to be pretty major shutdowns on 28th March. I think they're right, you can't take people's money and then change your mind. The march itself was from the Temple to Trafalgar Square by quite a convoluted route, passing Parliament on the way.

Greg