Conference tallis::celt

    Where are the Ghurkas?
    
    Just curious,
    -george

    
    
    Why dont you try some of the local Irish or Tartan clubs down there
    for starters...Im sure there must be a few around...if not you might
    have to wander into London....
    
    Se�n

That's an idea.... thanks...

(The Ghurkas are a British Army regiment made up of British officers & Nepalese
men - sort of official mercenaries really; very colonial set-up if you ask me.
They have a fearsome reputation as tough and ruthless soldiers, and whenever
there's any trouble they're usually found in the middle of it. On the plus side
I believe soldiers' remittances home are Nepal's biggest single source of
revenue, and Nepal - supposedly - will resist any attempts to disband or reduce
the regiment's size. They are also very good pipers!)

Tarik

	Hello Tarik, can't help you with the bagpipe lessons but I'm sure
	there must be a pipe band around, in west London if not in Reading
	itself.
	
	If you're planning to take up the pipes you should start with a
	practice chanter (the end that looks like a tin whistle or recorder)
	before moving up to the bag and drones. There's a shop in Croydon
	that specialises in traditional and folk type stuff; I bought an
	instrument (not pipes) from them a few years ago and occasionally 
    	they send me a catalogue in the hope I'll buy something else. I have 
    	an old one around somewhere that I'm sure has chanters, full sets 
    	and secondhand pipes plus music books and tutors.
	
	I'll put the address and telephone number in here tomorrow; I think
	they do mail order as well but if I remember right it was a friendly
	enough shop where they let you play around with the goods without
	buying.        
	
	John

	What am I talking about, it's not Croydon it's Crawley, which is
	further south of London; you could probably get there from
	Leatherhead at a dinnertime.
	
	The address is:	Hobgoblin Music,
			17 the Parade
			Northgate
			Crawley
			Sussex
			Phone: 0293 515858
	
	The price list I have has practice chanters from 3 pounds up and full
	sets from 60 - 400 pounds (though I bet the 60 pound one is only good
	for blowing bubbles) and tutors for about 4 pounds. I would think the
	best deal would be a good secondhand set. There is also a note
	earlier in this file (number 349) that covers both the war pipes and
	Uileann pipes.
	
	There are some directions included to get to the shop by road:
	
	leave M23 at A264 exit (Crawley)
	follow Northgate Avenue towards town centre
	turn right into Woodfield road before town centre
	
	The street it is in is not very big. If you go by train I remember a
	street map across the road from the station and the shop is about ten
	minutes walk.
	
	John

    My good friend and piping buddy just moved to England somewhere in the
    London area. He has already lined up lessons and scoped out pipe bands
    in the area. His wife is supposed to be back in USA next week and I
    will get his new address from her and post, you might want to contact
    him to see what he has found out. He has only been there since end of
    April, so would have a newcomer's perspective on how to fit into life
    and piping in the area.

Thanks guys...

Yes, Crawley isn't too far from Leatherhead, just a quick blip round the M25 &
M23 (if such a thing exists!)

What about the "tartan" issue? (ie how do you qualify?)

Tarik

    How do you qualify?
    
    You can marry a scot - or be one.
    
    Ed
    

There is a pipe band in Reading. I don't have a contact, but if you
call the St Andrews church on London Road, they will know who you
should contact.

Craig