During our relatively short history we have organised tutored classes supported by the Ulster/Scots Agency for interested people wishing to learn to play the Fife and Lambeg Drum.

The Fife is a small shrill instrument played like a flute and would have a distinctly military background. Many of the tunes played on the Fife would have their origins steeped in local hornpipe music.

In contrast the Lambeg Drum is a large cumbersome instrument usually made of wood with goat skin ends tightened by a rope. The diameter of the drum measures around 1 meter and can weigh anything up to 44lbs.

Like the Fife, the Lambeg too has military trappings, which can be traced back to the Williamite Wars 1689-1691. The drums then would have been a smaller version known as stave drums carried in the style of a snare drum. Through time the drums got bigger and therefore increased volume.

The second part of our organisation is Galgorm Parks Fife and Drum Group, which has become the musical recording aspect of the Cub.

The Group have produced two CD's to date promoting F+D music and rhythms. "Distant Drums" was released on 17 November 2001, and is mainly drum orientated.

Our most recent Album "Party at the Parks" launched on 27 June 2004, in contrast to "Distant Drums" features the Fife as the predominant instrument.

If you wish to order either of these CD's or the very latest release by Elaine Allen titled "Twistin Tin" why not visit our web shop.

Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson playing the lambeg at the unfurling of Galgorm Parks Banner in 1968.

Alex on the bottom row left- with other musicians Mark Ramsey, Stanley Swann, Elaine Allen, Jimmy Wright and Richard Topping during the recording of Party at the Parks Album in 2004.

Alex Wilson has long associations with Galgorm Parks as a member of the Lodge since the 1950's, but it is his major contribution to the music of the lambeg drum over this peroid of time which marked Alex down as one of the finest drummers the Lodge has ever produced. With his own unique style of drumming, Alex's ability to add a "special wee lilt" to the music earned him many admirers throughout the country.

A keen sportsman, Alex currently playes for Ballymena Bowling Club as well as been a more than useful golfer. In his younger days Alex was an accomplished full back with Ballymena United F.C.and he just missed out as a teenager for a place in Ballymena's famous Irish Cup winning team of 1957.

Nowadays Alex takes life a bit easier but he still finds the time to tutor up and comming drummers as well as active roll with Galgorm Parks Fife and Drum Club.