FRIGGIN Riggin was formed 20 years ago by a small band of Bude Lifeboatmen.

They met on winter evenings at the Falcon Hotel in Bude to develop from scratch their musical skills to able to play and sing popular Cornish songs and sea shanties.

As their skills developed and their repertoire of music and song expanded, they were joined by other members and supporters of the Bude Lifeboat and they became an enlarged band of many musicians and singers.

They were invited to perform at many lifeboat stations including Salcombe and Newquay and also at Bude on their annual Lifeboat Day, in the process raising large amounts of money in support of the RNLI.

Over the years many members of the band have moved on and others have joined but there remains a core of the original members who still retain the original concept which is to raise money for local charities.

The main charity supported has always been the RNLI but other charities supported have been The Children’s Hospice, Cornwall Air Ambulance, Cancer Research, Sound Waves South West, The Memory Café in Bude, Bude Sea Pool, and also other various local events who in turn are raising money for their own specified charities.

They meet on a Wednesday evening at the Falcon Hotel, mostly practicing during the winter and then playing regularly in the bar during the summer. The lifeboat box is always on the table.

Over the years the band have raised more that £15,000 in support of these charities.

Several years ago the band appeared on the BBC One Show singing in Morwenstow Church their rendition of Trelawney for a programme about the Reverend Hawker.

Another highlight one year was playing in the church at Kilkhampton for the annual flower festival when the vicar being very thoughtful had a selection of beers chilling in the font for the band to enjoy afterwards.

The band have a great camaraderie which has been the main success story for them staying together for so many years. For them its all about enjoying what they do and if others also enjoy it that is a bonus.