A BAGPIPER is going out of his way to pay tribute to those who fought in the Second World War with a special performance today.

Robert Adam, 55, of Halstead, is set to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day with his own private bagpipe performance in the town.

Residents close to the Halstead war memorial will no doubt be able to hear the music as Robert pays tribute to those who fought in the Second World War.

A keen bagpipe player for nearly four decades, Robert will start playing at 3pm.

He said: “I have been playing the pipes for about 37 years now and have lived in Halstead all my life.

“I am a member of the Colchester Pipes and Drums. Recently we have played at the Menin Gate at Ypres at the 8pm service and last year on September 20 we joined other pipe bands with more than 140 players from the UK, Belgium and Holland to march across the John Frost Bridge at Arnhem to commemorate 75 years since Operation Market Garden was put into action by the British 1st Airborne Division to capture the bridge.

“I was asked to play at a local ceremony at Greenstead Green for VE Day but due to the Covid-19 epidemic that was cancelled.

“I thought l would still like to play at 3pm on Friday as l know pipers from all over the country have organised to play a tune called The Battles O’er at that time.

“I have not advertised that l am going to do this because of the current gathering restrictions in place and l hope nobody minds me doing it as it’s probably not essential, but to me it is.”