William restores his Lambeg to former glory

William, from Dervock acquired the shell of the drum from the Dervock Lodge at a meeting 25 years ago.

William was given the drum to restore and use but not to sell. The drum was one of three that had been used through the years in Flute, Pipe and even Accordian bands. Unfortunately two of the three had past restoration but William was able to save the shell from one.

William notes that ‘the shell was filled with cob webs, wood worm and a black scum. You wouldn’t have even known it was a shell’.

William enlisted the help of his son and the Spratt family to treat the shell and turn it back into the drum that had once served the lodge well.

Tommy Johnston who has been in the lodge since 1957 added that ‘ the drum has always been there as long as I have’.

The drum has served through many generations in the lodge and now thanks to Williams restoration the sound of the drum can be heard every 11th night.