Kirsty Macnicol
The Southland Times
July 13, 1998

REHEARSALS are well under way for the southernmost international
participants in Scotland's prestigious Edinburgh Military Tattoo next
month.
The City of Invercargill Caledonian and City of Dunedin pipe bands joined forces at the weekend for another run through of the marching display that will take centre stage at the event seen live by 200,000 and televised to more than 50 million people worldwide.
The bands have been asked to keep the display under wraps until the Tattoo opening in August.
Dunedin drum major Brent Cooper said the camps and rehearsals leading up to the Tattoo had been intense. He and others had already had to have shoes resoled.
Invercargill drum major Neale Smith said it had been a challenging exercise to bring two bands from different backgrounds, with different
interpretations together.
Dunedin pipe major Donald Wilson agreed, saying traditionally the bands usually only met in competition.
"We play bagpipes all for the same reason, and drums, and it's a great
thing to have such co-operation," Mr Wilson said.
It was a huge honour for the bands to be offered a solo spot in the Tattoo programme, Mr Cooper said.
They will also perform in the popular massed pipe band items.
Two more combined rehearsals have been scheduled before the bands leave at the end of the month.
The Tattoo cast of about 1000 will have four days together, rehearsing from 7am until midnight, before the show begins on August 7. The Tattoo runs for three weeks, with 23 performances