LANGHOLM Flute Band’s drummers took revenge on the flautists during their annual refreshment stop at Hillhead this year, writes David McVittie.
Big drummer Cameron Davidson and side drummer Kieran Johnstone made use of the dog cage attached to a shed and locked them all up.
This was following the yearly argument between drummer and flautist as to who has the real talent in the band, with each group claiming superiority over the other and the annual good-natured debate on the matter.
The drummers hatched a plot to have the flautists locked up so placed a plate of barley banna and cheese, three bottles of rum and a jug of milk inside the cage.
This is the natural diet of the flautist on Common Riding morning and, once one of them had seen the food and beverage and made his way into the cage, the others followed and the trap was sprung.
The flaw in the plan soon became apparent, however, and it was soon realised that there was no rum left outside the cage for the drummers so, reluctantly, they let them all out.
Mine host for the refreshment stop was, again, ex-Cornet Lee William Earsman and his partner, Helen, who took over the duties from John Armstrong, “John o Hillheed” and his wife, Aileen, when they moved into the town a couple of years ago.
A morning of Lee and Helen’s hospitality was enjoyed and it was agreed that this was a “topper” way to start the big day before the band played back down into the town, rivalries put to bed for another year.
Rum and milk the flautists’ downfall
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