Strathpeffer, apart from being hard to pronounce, is tucked away in a fold in the Highlands north of Inverness. It is a Victorian spa town and boasts a recently beautifully restored Pavilion with a design based on the Pavilion in Baden-Baden. Last week-end it was bathed in sunshine and the autumnal colours of the surrounding woods and moors was wonderful. To this delightful spot journeyed the intrepid Tutbury Band some by their own transport but most by coach. They survived the 11 hour journey in remarkably good spirits and continued with the good spirits in the bar until rather late. To improve our cultural awareness during the week-end there were trips to a Distillery and to Loch Ness, and of course there was golf

The Band gave two concerts in the Pavilion and, I hope this is not too immodest, were a triumph. When there is a standing ovation you know you've done something right. The idea of a Concert Wind Band is unheard of in the Highlands and 'Tutbury' is not an household name in Scotland so we were assuming that there would be only a modest sized audience.

On the Friday night it was not overcrowded but the publicity had invited children to come and inspect the instruments. Some of the deprived Highland children had never been introduced to a tuba or spoken to a saxophone. So there were quite a lot of children there and during the interval there was a lot of noisy socialising. It was great fun and we discovered one young lad who has a great future as a percussionist judging from his performance on the gong! Another lad was so enthused by the noise he made on the euphonium that he came back next evening to have another go. He did the loud bit very well. It was a very informal and convivial evening and we were told that "the word has gone out" that the Band was good value.

On the Saturday night it was a sell-out and they were turning people away at the door. We had arranged for the Strathpeffer Pipe Band to play during the interval and to join with us at the end of the evening with a massed bands rendition of "The Highland Cathedral". This was a wonderfully moving experience and the sound made was marvellous - especially so as we had had no rehearsal. A lot of people got very emotional and Tutbury Band was asked to come back again - which was great.

We have asked the Strathpeffer Pipe Band (all 40 of them) to visit Tutbury for the Music Festival at Tutbury Castle next year (make sure you are there) and they will let us know if they can make it. I heard one young lady in the Pipe Band who was standing behind me when the invitation was given out, say in a piercing whisper to her friend, "That's in England"! It is after all a long way away. During the celebrations afterwards we discovered that members of the Band have some talent at dancing but at least one is a very good singer. So we should be able to add to the entertainment value of the Band.

You too can revel in the delights of Tutbury Band's music on the 16th December at 7.30pm at the Christmas Concert at Burton Town Hall. Tickets available from Barbara Harvey (01283 812091) or from any member of the Band. I hope to see you all there.

David Walford