A TALENTED Dunbar drummer is getting ready to make history and play in front of a total audience of millions through Edinburgh’s Royal Military Tattoo.

Frazer Rankin took up the drums at the age of 13 and has climbed the ranks to become Drum Sergeant with Haddington Pipe Band.

Now, the 20-year-old is getting ready to play in front of his biggest ever crowd.

He said: “This is going to be the biggest thing I have ever done.

“It’s always been an ambition of mine but I never thought it would be coming quite so soon.” Edinburgh’s Royal Military Tattoo starts tonight (Friday) and runs through until August 23.

Already, Frazer has linked up with his 23 colleagues at Edinburgh’s Redford Barracks as they attempt to perfect their music and marching.

The band, called the Pipers’ Trail, are the first-ever group of pipers with no military connections to play in the international event in its history stretching back to 1950.

The former Dunbar Grammar School pupil explained how he became involved in the history-making event.

He said: “It was advertised online and I put my name forward for it.

“You have to go through a few different things, you have to put in a CV and had to have video evidence of yourself playing and also a reference from a Pipe Major from a current band.

“I play with Haddington Pipe Band and I put all that in an email.

“A few days later they responded back saying they wanted me.” The band will perform each night for a crowd of thousands, with two performances on a Saturday.

Each performance will last about 90 minutes on the world-famous esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, with the annual event broadcast to millions.

Frazer, from Dunbar’s Bruntsfield Crescent, took up the drums as a teenager.

He said: “It’s just something I really enjoy doing.

“I really enjoy playing percussion and enjoy the rhythm of it – it’s just been a real passion.

“It’s just come about through myself, I’m the first one in the family to do it.

“I do have a wee bit of musical talent from my uncle and aunt, one is a blues musician and the other a singer.

“There is a bit of a musical gene passed on in the family.” Usually, Frazer can be found working in the town’s Asda store.

He said: “I let my employers know and they were happy for me to take time off.

“They have been really great with everything and I really appreciate it.”