Preston's Band set to be re-born

The Preston's Lodge had an accordion band which folded around 30 years ago but now attempts are being made at forming a new band for the lodge - and this time it will be a flute band.

William Elliott (20), from Ballytober, would like to get the Preston's Flute Band up and running for next year and he is appealing for male and females of all ages to join up as fluters and drummers.

Practice sessions are expected to be held in Bushmills Orange Hall.

William, whose father Derek is Secretary of Preston's LOL 1987, said the reason for re-starting the band is that it costs quite a lot of money bringing a visiting band over from Scotland to lead the lodge on July 12.

He said the band has always treasured the links with Scotland and has been delighted with the participation from across the water.

But they now want to get their own band back on the road and he said members of the Lodge and further afield would be delighted if that could happen.

Preston's Accordion Band continued for a number of years until its demise in the 1980s when it was remembered as being a largely all-girl band - but now the appearance of the Preston's Flute Band will add to the numbers of marching bands in the general Bushmills area where there is already the Giant's Causeway Flute Band and bands in nearby districts like Dunseverick, Ballintoy and Benvardin.

William said they expect to get help from other bands in the area to train up new band members and he said originally the plan is to take the band out three or four times a year instead of making the commitment of being out on the road virtually every weekend during the summer.

He explained why they were going down the route of the flute instead of the accordion.

"Accordions can be quite difficult to learn and we feel that younger people will be attracted more easily to the flutes," he said.

William, who aims to be a band member himself, added: "It would be great to see another band in Bushmills."

And he revealed that the big drum from the Preston's Accordion Band is still intact and it will be dusted down to be used as the centrepiece of the new band so as to retain a link with the history of the old outfit.

New skins will be put on the big drum proudly bearing the title Preston's Flute Band.

The attempt to form a new band will be music to the ears of fans of the marching band as some commentators have always felt it strange there are not more bands in the district given the strong Unionist traditions around Bushmills.

Over the years a number of bands folded including in Bushmills itself; Castlecatt; Derrykeighan, Craigalappin and Ballyoglagh.

Anyone wishing to join the new Preston's Band can contact William on 07513859430.