Pipers are being asked to participate in the 20th anniversary of the Piper’s Memorial at Longueval in northeast France.

Sculptured by Andy DeComyn of Birmingham, England, the three metre high monument in Longueval village square [pictured] was erected on July 20, 2002. It is dedicated to all pipers who fell during the Great War, regardless of race or unit. 120 pipers and drummers from a variety of countries played at the dedication ceremony. DeComyn’s monument depicts a piper in full battle dress, kilt and tin helmet climbing up and over the parapet of a trench, encouraging the men on with the sound of his pipes.

The anniversary is being organised by the Piper’s Memorial Association, Mairie of Longueval and Somme Battlefield Pipe Band.

Longueval was part of the well-sited German second defensive line that Allied planners had expected to capture early in July 1916. It featured heavily during the opening day of the Battle of the Somme and by the midde of the month had been retaken by the 9th (Scottish) Division.

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Roddy MacLeod MBE will perform the next recital for the Lewis and Harris Piping Society. The recital takes place on October 1 in the Community Hall in Balallan, Lochs.

Photo: Derek Maxwell.

MacLeod has strong family connections with the district.

A spokesman for the Lewis & Harris Pipng Society said a selection of tunes composed by the late Pipe Major Alex M. MacIver will feature as part of Roddy’s recital. MacIver also had very strong family links with the area.

MacIver was born in Glasgow but his parents were from Lewis. On his return from service in India in 1947 he joined the 214th Boys Brigade as pipe tutor and nurtured generations of aspiring pipers over many years, including the likes of Iain MacLellan of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. He composed many good pipe tunes.

MacIver [pictured] was President of the Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association from 1958 to 1961. He died on May 27, 1989.

The evening will kick off with a short selection of tunes played young local piper, John Angus Graham from Bragar.

Admission payable at the door is £10 for adults and free for juniors.