The Trail Armouries rang out with a little extra thunder Monday evening as the Trail Pipe Band held its regular practice with some added help from local Air and Sea Cadets who were on hand to receive a donation.
The Trail Pipe Band, which has been a local fixture in one form or another for a century, recently raised enough money to purchase new drums for its members and decided to donate the older equipment to the local cadets.
“We`ve had some members of the cadets come out and learn with the pipe band before,” said Gordon Titsworth, the band’s president.
“We`re hoping this might encourage them to get even more involved.“
The band raised the necessary money for new equipment, almost $11,000 in total, by applying for various grants and funds raised on its own.
“We received donations from the LeRoi Foundation, the Legion Foundation, and the Columbia Basin Trust`s Community Initiatives program and we`re grateful for their help,” explained Titsworth.
“The new drums sound great.”
The commanding officer for the Sea Cadets, Lt. (N) Richard Chanig, said having a drum corps can be a major part of the recruitment process in getting kids involved with the cadets.
“Kids don`t necessarily just want to join up to march around, this can be an added attraction,” said Chanig. “Air, Sea, and Army all have band programs at the summer camps.
“It helps build esprit de corps and encourages involvement,” said Air Cadet C.O. Lt. James Hossack. “I can remember being young and feeling that kind of swelling pride when the band starts.”
The Trail Pipe Band performs regularly for numerous community functions including the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies and Silver City Days parades and travels throughout the province to celebrations, parades, and competitions in various other communities.
“If you look at one of the photos from the opening of the old Trail Bridge in 1912 you can see the band there,” said Titsworth.
“But it’s officially been a part of the community since 1923.”
The band has a busy schedule throughout the year, with their learning season from September through May, when they learn new material and rehearse, and their parade season from May through to September.
The band rehearses every Monday night at the Trail Armouries and always welcomes new members and anyone interested can find out more by calling Titsworth at (250) 368-8348.