I had blogged a while back about 9th Ards BB Company, Movilla Presbyterian Church in Newtownards - well Friday 7th May was the big night for the boy's their annual display.
Over recent months I had been attending mostly on a Friday evening teaching the Company Section a few rhythms in preparation for their display. This particular BB Company are a very dynamic innovative group, keen to try new ideas each year - this year it was the Ulster Scots through the Lambeg Drum. In front of a packed hall of family, friends and guests, the Company Section put on a great display of Lambeg Drumming - to great cheers from the audience. In his closing remarks the guest of honour for the evening Mr. George Forrester (Vice President of Ards Battalion) commented that it was 'truly unique and a wonderful treat for the boy's of Company Section to have been afforded the opportunity to learn to play, then display tonight what they had been taught on the lambeg drum - it is really great to see'
To be truthful I was quite apprehensive how the audience wold receive the lambeg drum being played in a church hall at a BB display - I am very conscious of the negative publicity the drum has received in recent years - however it was very well received and for many the highlight of the night. I believe it is through outreach work in schools, community groups and other organisations that lambeg drumming - through the Ulster Scots can help to change perceptions.
For my work with the boy's I was presented with a BB wooden pen set engraved ' steadfast & sure' As an ex BB lad myself, I was delighted to have been afforded the opportunity to work 9th Ards BB in this unique project, it was successful in a number of ways not least that several of the boys now come to my lambeg drum, fife & whistle classes at Movilla High School on a Friday morning.
All you can do is to keep chipping away!
HMA
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