It is intended to further develop the RAF Waddington area of this site. Please check back later. It might be a bit slow in coming because piping practice gets preference
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The Pipes and Drums of Royal Air Force Waddington
The Pipes and Drums of Royal Air Force Waddington is a voluntary band. The band operates from its premises at RAF Waddington, 3 miles south of Lincoln. Members are drawn from RAF personnel, Ministry of Defence employed personnel and civilians. The band is run by Pipe Major Finlay MacGhee who is a full time, highly qualified Pipe Major / Instructor. We currently have two weekly practice nights, on Mondays and Wednesdays in addition to a Sunday dancing school. P/M MacGhee has recently strengthened the teaching aspect of the band by introducing the RAF Waddington School of Piping, Drumming and Dancing. We have our own facility with practice rooms, storage and a hall, large enough for the full band to practice marching and displays.
The band is kept very busy covering both Service and Civilian commitments both locally and internationally. In recent years it has had members performing at many high profile engagements
such as Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade, and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. In 2003 we undertook a short tour of the Denzlingen area of Germanys Black Forest to celebrate Denzlingens twinning with the town of North Hykeham, close to Lincoln. In 2005 we will be participating in the Voorthuizen Military Tattoo in the Netherlands to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation.
As members of the Royal Air Force Pipe Band Association, personnel from the band participate in a combined RAF Pipe Band which undertakes major engagements. In 2004 we had personnel playing at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and in 2005 band members have joined the RAF pipe band at the 2005 “Edinburgh Military Tattoo Salute to Australia” in Sydney, Australia
Leading RAF Waddington’s “Freedom of Lincoln” Parade
When on parade the band wears full Highland dress with kilt and plaid in the Hunting MacIntyre tartan. Permission to wear this tartan was kindly granted by the Chieftain of the Clan MacIntyre whose clan motto is "Per Ardua". Some engagements are undertaken wearing recently acquired black Argyll jackets with the MacIntyre kilt.
There is a long tradition of piping and pipe bands in the Royal Air Force. The RAF Waddington band history dates back to the 1950's although not much is known about these earlier years. However, in January 1967 the Scampton Band amalgamated with the Waddington Band to form the No 1 (Bomber) Group Pipe Band. Later that year the Finningley Pipe Band was absorbed into the No 1 Group Pipe Band. Since the No 1 Group headquarters moved from Bawtry, the band has been accommodated and administered by RAF Waddington.
We are currently trying to write a comprehensive band history and when that’s done there will be an update to these pages. If you can contribute to the history please e-mail us.
