Taverham bagpiper to play D-Day80 tributes around the UK

Denise MacRae-Ramsbottom's journey will begin this Sunday at Sandringham where she will play the first of 10 "Highland Laddie" renditions as part of the countdown to the 80th anniversary of D-Day. 

Beginning at exactly 8am each morning, she will perform the "haunting" song at locations including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Norwich Castle and Somerleyton Hall during the 10-day vigil.

Denise MacRae-Ramsbottom was told as a child it would be impossible for her to play a musical instrument (Image: Denise MacRae-Ramsbottom)

It will be a "dream come true" for Denise, a biomedical scientist living in Taverham.

She said: "It was a chance meeting with a pipe band drummer that led to me learning the instrument here in Norfolk, around 14 years ago. 

"It is a huge honour to be asked to play the bagpipes for this tribute and it will be one of the most memorable experiences of my piping career."

She now plays the euphonium, tenor horn, trumpet and Highland Pipes in RAF bands (Image: Denise MacRae-Ramsbottom)

Denise is starting her performances at Sandringham (Image: Newsquest)

As a child, Denise was told by her teachers that it would be impossible for her to play a musical instrument due to hearing loss in one ear but she ignored the advice and now plays the euphonium, tenor horn, trumpet and Highland Pipes with the RAF.

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She added: "I am extremely proud to be representing England and playing in some wonderful locations.

"I hope to also honour those who are currently still serving in our armed forces through my association with RAF Voluntary Bands."

Denise said it was a dream come true to play the pipes for the D-Day 80 (Image: Denise MacRae-Ramsbottom)

Buckingham Palace will be part of Denise's D-Day bagpipe tour (Image: PA Wire)

Pageantmaster Bruno Peek, one of the organisers of the 80-day countdown to D-Day80, said: "We are delighted that Denise decided to ignore her teachers all those years ago and will pipe for us in front of some of the country's most distinguished and famous landmarks.

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"Her 10-day tribute will be a fitting honour to the memory of those brave soldiers who played their part in Normandy and the Second World War."

Denise will be playing at Norwich Castle at 8am on Sunday, May 5.

The Normandy landings

The D-Day operation was a large-scale invasion of Europe by the Allied forces on June 6, 1944, when nearly 150,000 soldiers from the UK, USA and Canada stormed the beaches at Normandy in France. 

Royal Marine commandos moving off the Normandy beaches during the advance inland from Sword beach (Image: PA Wire)

Around 4,400 Allied soldiers died in the landings, which were spread across five sections called Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword. 

More than 6,900 ships and 11,500 aircraft were used in the operation, making it the largest land, sea and air assault in history.