An iconic girl band that put Dagenham on the map has played its final performance, leaving behind an inspiring history.
The Dagenham Girl Pipers became recognised globally, touring countries around the world.
The group was founded in 1930 by Rev Joseph Graves upon his return from serving as Army Padre in Canada during the First World War.
Rev Graves had enlisted the help of Douglas Taylor, a pipe major from the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, to create what was thought to be the world's first female pipe band.
Just 12 girls formed the original group, with 12 members marking the end of the band's legacy at a Remembrance Day performance last month in Dagenham.
After 94 years and 86 of those on tour, the girl pipers have been forced to disband due to dwindling numbers over recent years.
One of those marching for the final time was pipe major Sheila Hatcher, who had been part of the band since 1958.
Sheila said: "It has been an emotional day, absolutely fantastic. A day I won't forget.
"Never in a million years did I ever expect that I would stay for this length of time."
She received a British Empire Medal from the late Queen Elizabeth II in the January 2013 New Year's Honours List for her services to the band and the community.
"The band disbanding I think is because we just can't get younger members," Sheila said.
"I mean, married, two children, grandchildren... no, never ever expected for it, for me to last this long."
The group's first performance took place outside Osborne Hall on the new Becontree Estate after a year and a half of practice.
Years later in 2022, a plaque was commissioned in celebration of the girl pipers outside the Osborne Square Church.
Popularity and success followed after the group's first show, taking the girls across the world.
At times some tours were more eventful than expected, with the group having to flee Germany in 1939 only two weeks before the Second World War began.
Members were paid £5 a week and had to follow strict rules preventing them from smoking, drinking and wearing make-up.
The band survived pressures from the Second World War and resumed tours, this time going further than before.
It performed across the likes of America, the Middle East and Africa.
There were several TV appearances, with records from the Valence House Museum archives preserving past broadcasts.
The group was taken over by The David Land Agency in 1948 after Rev Graves retired.
In the 1960s the group reverted to amateur status after it was decided it was too costly to run as a professional troupe.
To mark the band's last hurrah, Dagenham Girl Pipers past and present reunited on November 10 and exchanged stories from years gone by.
Carol Deacon, one of the final 15 members of the group, told The Post how she had discovered the girl band.
She said: "A friend of mine at school introduced me to them. I wanted to go to Girl Guides and she said: 'I've joined this band and they go all over the world'.
"So, I said: 'Okay, I'll give it a go' and hence I'm still here."
Some have fond memories of dancing and meeting celebrities during their time with the band.
Sgt Tracy Deller revealed she was invited to Queen frontman Freddie Mercury's 40th birthday party.
Tracy discovered the girl pipers by complete surprise at the age of 13, when her mother read an advertisement for the group in The Barking and Dagenham Post.
Tracy said: "I had come home from school that day and she said to me: 'Don't make any plans tonight, we're going out. We've got an audition. It'll be an absolute breeze for you'."
She described the final performance after 45 years of loyalty to the band as "the end of an era".
Tracy added: "It's been my whole life.
"I think it's going to take a little while to really sink in that this is it. I always thought that the band would go on forever."
For many pipers, the band has been passed down through generations from mothers to daughters.
Carol Madden, Julie Murphy and Nikki Murphy attended the last performance, representing their mothers, who were once girl pipers, and themselves.
The women recounted stories of dancing and playing with swords in their front room, learning the Highland Fling to the beat of a wooden spoon on a Tupperware container.
Uniforms have remained largely the same from the early years to their final days, consisting of tartan kilts, socks and velvet jackets.
According to band members, "you feel special when you put your uniform on".
The final performance was attended by Dagenham and Rainham MP Margaret Mullane, and Barking and Dagenham mayor Moin Quadri.
They each gave speeches at the Dagenham Trades Hall commending the band for its performance.
Ms Mullane said: "I feel quite emotional.
"I thought it was Dagenham at its best. To see the amount of people that turned up shows you how much it means to the people of Dagenham.
"How they are embedded in Dagenham and how loved they are was very apparent.
"I've never seen a turnout like this before. It's phenomenal.
"I don't think anyone is ever going to forget the girl pipers, they are an integral part of Dagenham."
The crowds that had marched with the band responded to the last song with cheers and clapping.
Tributes to the members and the history of the Dagenham Girl Pipers were posted online, with many echoing their upset at the loss of the group.
Sheila said: "I shall be in touch with all the girls, so we won't lose touch. My memories will be there forever."
Share