ALDERLEY District Scout Band is blowing its own trumpet after it gave a perfectly polished performance at the National Parade of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle on Sunday.
Seven members of the band were chosen to travel to London to form part of the Drum Corp at the parade which has been held regularly since 1934 on the Sunday nearest to St George's Day - St George is the patron saint of scouting.
They joined nine musicians from Syston Scout and Guide Band, with Alderley providing the Drum Major.
The Queen's Scout Award is the highest accolade which can be given to a scout.
This year, the centenary year of scouting, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh carried out the inspection of Queen's Scouts.
Bandmaster David Piltz said: "We were immensely proud to be able to represent the band, Alderley District Scouts, Cheshire County Scouts and the local area at the Queen's Scout Parade at Windsor Castle.
"To form part of such a smart and fantastic sounding corps of drums with our friends from Syston was brilliant and to be inspected and to talk to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh was something we will all never forget."
The band travelled to Windsor on Saturday and spent the night at 7th Windsor's scout hut with Syston and spent the evening getting in some last minute practising.
On Sunday they were up early for another rehearsal at the Guards Barracks at 10am. Then a full practice was carried out on the parade ground for both the Drum Corp and the Scouts.
They enjoyed lunch in the Royal Mews before getting ready for the event in which the Drum Corp had to keep the beat in time with The Coldstream Guards Band who was playing at the head of the parade.
During the inspection of the scouts the Queen stopped to talk to Alderley's Drum Major, Peter Simpson, while the Duke of Edinburgh had a few words with David Piltz.
David added: "Importantly the band is very much one team and it was a shame that the whole band was not invited to Windsor on this occasion. However, this did of course mean that the remainder of the band were able to fulfil our long standing tradition of leading the St George's Day Parade in Alderley Edge which I understand they did so very well - all the more impressive when considering the band had five new members on parade and were missing seven."
The band is now on the look out for more new recruits, aged eight, who would like to learn to play bugle, snare drum, bell lyre or the cymbals.
The instruments, uniform and the teaching are provided free of charge. All the band asks for in exchange is commitment to turn up to practice sessions and to attend events.
If anybody is interested contact Paul Simpson 01625 527750. Practices take place every Wednesday from 7pm till 8pm for new members, and the senior members from 8pm till 9.30pm.
"Scouting is all about opportunity; the opportunity to challenge yourself through adventure, meet new people, and go to new places. The Queen's Scout Award is the epitome of this", said Chief Scout, Peter Duncan.
