The Dagenham pipe band is splitting due to recruitment problems

The Dagenham Girl Pipers have been playing for decades but have decided to call it quits

A women’s bagpipe band that has been performing for almost 100 years says it is splitting up because they are struggling to recruit younger members.

According to the Dagenham Girl Pipers, girls don’t want to pick up the bagpipes anymore – their last performance will be on Remembrance Sunday.

Denise Morrison, who joined the east London band when she was nine, said girls are “more into social media these days than the discipline of a band”.

They shared their stories with BBC London as they rehearsed one last time at Valence House Museum in Barking.

Denise Morrison (right) says girls “these days are more into social media than the discipline of a band”

Sheila Hatcher and Denise Morrison stand outside in their uniforms, consisting of a black velvet jacket, red checked bagpipes, white lace collars and black hats. A tree is visible in the background — Denise Morrison (right) says girls “these days are more into social media than the discipline of a band”

The group has played all over the world with the likes of Elvis Presley, Diana Ross and the late Queen, with the members’ ages ranging from 65 to 85.

At one point there were more than 60 members. Pipe Major Sheila Hatcher said the important age for new recruits was 10 or 11.

Denise said she followed in her aunt and sister’s footsteps by joining the band, and has been playing for about 40 years.

Pipe Major Sheila Hatcher (left) said it was important to get new recruits at the age of 10 or 11

Four band members stood outside playing in their uniforms, consisting of a black velvet jacket, red tartan bagpipes, black drum, white lace collars and black hats. A tree is visible in the background — Pipe Major Sheila Hatcher (left) said it was important to get new recruits at the age of 10 or 11

“I think it’s really sad that we’ve gotten to a time where girls these days aren’t really interested in that kind of thing anymore,” she explained.

“I think today’s youth are not really interested, there are many other things on the market: devices, TikTok.

“They love social media more than the discipline of a band these days.”

Sheila says as well as playing for politicians and celebrities, we’ve worked in circuses and pantomimes, you name it, we’ve been there.

Sheila Hatcher stands in her uniform, consisting of a black velvet jacket, red tartan bagpipes, white lace collars and black hats — Sheila says as well as playing for politicians and celebrities, we’ve worked in circuses and pantomimes, you name it, we’ve been there.

An archive of the band’s history, kept at the museum, highlights their contributions and achievements over the decades.

There’s even a porcelain doll, complete with brogues, trousers, kilt, velvet jacket, lace and a hat.

Black and white photos in an album showing the band at many different events and meeting different people

The women have an impressive list of celebrity collaborations to their name over the years, including Dame Vera Lynn, Paul O’Grady and Eric Idle.

But it is the memories made together that hold a special place for many women.

Special memories

Lily Tillott, a sergeant who has been in the band for 59 years, tells the BBC that there has been brilliant camaraderie among the women, adding: “We are like a family.”

She said she was proud to wear her uniform around the world.

“It’ll take a while for me to realize it – but we’ll still meet and play every now and then,” said Lily Tillott (right).

Sheila Hatcher and Denise Morrison stood outside in their uniforms of a black velvet jacket, red tartan bagpipes, a black drum, white lace collars and black hats — “It’ll take a while for me to realize it – but we’ll still meet and play every now and then,” said Lily Tillott (right).

“It’s fantastic, we’ve traveled around, met different people, famous and otherwise, we’ve learned different cultures. It’s just beautiful,” she continued.

“You go behind the scenes of things and see how things are done, that’s something different.”

Denise said one of her favorite memories of trips with the band was performing at a circus in Bilbao, Spain, as well as playing at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s house.

‘It will take a while’

Sheila, who has been in the band for 65 years, said she also loved the traveling that came with their performances.

“I was lucky enough to go to Singapore to train the pipe band for the President of Singapore; South Africa, we’ve worked in circuses, pantomimes – you name it, we’ve been there,” she said.

Many of the images in the archive show the band performing around the world, such as this photo of them training a marching band in Singapore

Handout A black and white photo of Singaporean girls performing in a marching band at an event. Officials and the Singapore flag can be seen in the background — Many of the images in the archive show the band performing around the world, such as this photo of them training a marching band in Singapore

The band expects many former members to join them to celebrate their final performance, which they are bittersweet about.

“It’ll take a while for me to realize it – but we’ll still meet and play every now and then,” Lily said.