A SPECIAL performance could prove music to the ears of a loyal shopper to Haddington’s town centre businesses.

Haddington Pipe Band has launched a ‘shop local’ scheme with a big prize on offer – a personal performance by the band for the lucky winner.

The scheme has been devised as a thank you from the band to the many shops, cafes and other traders who have supported them over many years.

Working alongside Haddington Business Community Partnership (HBCP) and Haddington Farmers’ Market, pipe band members are encouraging people to spend their money in Haddington.

The Courier is delighted to help promote such initiatives as part of our Love Local Business campaign.

Ian Sutherland, band chairman, said: “We are indebted to so many wonderful shops, cafes, stallholders at the farmers’ market, and other businesses in the town and the wider area and at this difficult time for them, we thought we would try to give something back.

“This ‘shop local’ initiative is the result.”

Visitors to the town centre are being asked to pick up a card at the participating outlets, all of which will have a poster on display.

Customers can then spend £10 or more in six different shops which are involved in the project, with the card signed by the shopkeeper.

When the shopper has six signatures, the card can be put in the prize box at the John Gray Centre.

The closing date for submitting cards is September 30, with Provost John McMillan drawing the winner the following week.

The winner will then be notified and arrangements made for the band to come together for a special performance.

Among the businesses taking part are Gibsons, Graham the Jeweller, Erica’s, Oxfam, TV & Audio Repair Centre, Celebrations, Mains, The Loft, Fabrication, The Cheese Lady, Joe Forte Sports, Market Street Pharmacy, Naked Lunch and The Reading Room.

Haddington Farmers’ Market is also taking part in the scheme, which was backed by Val Shields, chair of the market.

Stallholders taking part in the scheme are Ballencrieff Pork, Belhaven Smokehouse, Falko, Fidra Gin, Letham Plants, Mungoswells Flour, Myco Bee Mushrooms, Phantassie Organics, Saltpigs Sea Salt, The Spice Witch and Winton Brewery.

Mrs Shields said: “Haddington Farmers’ Market is delighted to support this initiative from Haddington Pipe Band.

“Anything that encourages people to shop locally and support local businesses is to be applauded.

“We have missed the pipe band entertaining us each month at the market and this is a kind gesture from them to support the local community during this pandemic.

“We have calculated that if everyone in East Lothian spent an extra £5 per week in local shops and businesses, that would be an extra £27.8m per annum going back into our local communities. This means real jobs, better facilities and better places to live.”

Mr McMillan, who lives in the town and represents it on East Lothian Council, was hopeful that the initiative would encourage people to shop locally.

He said: “Haddington Pipe Band has always described itself as a ‘community band’ and it is truly living up to its values by doing this for the town.

“With traders having kept going during the lockdown and now opening up to a new normal, the band has responded to all the support they have been given in the past, and I very much hope that this scheme will encourage folk to ‘support local’.

“The prize of a special pipe band performance is a unique idea, and I am sure it will help to drum up business for the town.”

Any other shops wishing to join the scheme are asked to call Alastair Bruce on 07725 584108.