HOPES are high that the number of pipe bands present on Annan Riding of the Marches day this July will be higher than the previous year.
Aside from the horses and the parade, the sound of the pipes and drums are one of the first things associated with ROM day.
Bands attending can take part in the parade, compete in a branch competition in the afternoon and march down Annan High Street in the early evening as part of the massed bands grand finale event.
This year the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band have said they will only be taking part in the competition on Saturday July 5 as a result of a major contest the following week.
Their decision was criticised on social media, however, there will still be plenty of other bands taking part in the parade and massed bands, according to AROM chairman Stuart Thompson.
He said: “This year I must have contacted 50 bands. I’m constantly liaising with them. It’s such a spectacle, and the bands that do come absolutely love coming to Annan.
“To try and increase the number in the massed bands, what we are doing is inviting non-competition bands along. They will do the parade and the massed bands later on.
“It would be great if we can get into the late teens. It’s very encouraging that we’ve got more this year.
“Annan is very, very fortunate to witness what we do. There’s very few other towns that do the massed bands.
“We are very appreciative of the bands that take the time and effort to come here.”
Stuart added: “The RSPBA are responsible for organising the five majors, they then delegate responsibility to the branch to organise branch competitions.
“Unfortunately this year the RSPBA have planned a major for Saturday July 12.
“I have been in dialogue with them about this. Next year that competition is being moved to May.
“The competition (in Annan) is organised by the Dumfries and Ayr branch of the RSPBA. It is held in very high esteem.
“The Annan band will be playing in the competition (in Annan), they will be there on the day.”
Stuart said they have a lot of opportunities in order to break even. Attending bands received money towards their travel costs, prize money from the competition, money for taking part in the parade and a hamper.
Thanks are expressed to Professor David Thomson and Teresa Church from the Annandale Distillery Group and Rhona Lynn from the Gretna Wedding Bureau for their donations towards the event.
Stuart added: “It costs about £6500 to stage the competition, it’s quite expensive but well worth it.
“With the two donations, plus some money from the Annan Common Good fund, that gives us a base to run a very healthy competition.”
After ROM day is over, Stuart will start organising bands for next year’s event as early as August.
He said: “The customs (horses riding around the boundaries) and the parade, they are the riding of the marches. But the competition and the massed bands is a massive part of it.”
