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 Chris McNicholl again proved himself to be amongst the best up and coming side drummers to come out of Northern Ireland by winning the senior drumming event at the Ulster Solo Piping and Drumming Championships which took place on Saturday 19 April, 2008 in Monkstown, Northern Ireland. This, an outstanding achievement, as it was Chris' first time competing in the senior grade. He was placed second in the March, Strathspey & Reel section, playing to the tunes Highland Wedding, Maggie Cameron and John Morrison of Assynt House. Second in the Hornpipe and Jig event playing Kizbaum's Frenzy, Michael MacDonald's Jig and The Humours of Whiskey, making him first overall. The drumming competition was judged by newly crowned World Solo Drumming Champion Barry Wilson and Thomas Johnstone. Chris would like to thank Ian Burrows for piping for him. Well done Chris from all the band on this terrific result! Scottish Championships Draw Announced The draw for the 2008 Scottish Championships has been made and you can see by the list below that we have been drawn first! This will be the first competition outing for the band this year due to participation in the International Police Tattoo held in Adelaide, Australia in early May. We look forward to seeing you there on Saturday 24 May, 2008 Levengrove Park, Dumbarton, for a day of hopefully good weather, good playing and fair judging. Grade 1 Adult Drum Majors - Heat 5 David Currie - Strathclyde Police - Royal Stewart Obituary - Pipe Major Ronald Lawrie
It is with great sadness that the band has learnt of the passing of Pipe Major Ronald Lawrie. He was Pipe Major of the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band from 1966-1972. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Ann and family at this sad time. PIPE MAJOR RONALD LAWRIE - 1927-2008 To describe the life and achievements of Ronnie Lawrie in a few lines is an impossible task. Born on the 21 July, 1927 in Tweedale Street, Oban, into a local piping family and in a street where in nearly every close there lived a piper, it was inevitable that Big Ronnie would become a piper. Upon leaving school Ronnie worked for a while in Livingstone's garage before moving to Glasgow where he joined the City of Glasgow Police and also the Glasgow Police Pipe Band under Pipe Major John MacDonald from whom he also received instruction. He was also taught by Archie MacNeil and Pipe Major Robert Reid. His competitive record is too long to go into but his proudest moment was winning the Argyllshire Gathering Gold Medal in 1961 in his home town, playing the MacDougall's Gathering - a tune he had only put in as a last minute change. He also took over the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band in 1967 and in 6 years in charge led it to many championships including the band's first ever champion of champions title. Unfortunately ill health forced him to retire prematurely and he handed over the reins to Ian McLellan in 1972. He later became the piping instructor for the schools in Oban and it was as an eight year old in primary school, I began to take lessons from him. On first meeting Ronnie as a small boy, he was a fearsome sight, but I quickly got to know him as the gentle giant he really was. Lessons with Ronnie were strictly informal and would often last up to four hours (half of which was playing, the other half spent listening to his wonderful stories), and no matter what time or day or night you would arrive at his house, Ronnie would be in his big armchair with at least one set of pipes on his knee. "Try this set of drones for me, I want to see where they are tuning". or "I've got this new chanter I want you to try". He was a master at setting up pipes and no matter how well you thought your pipes were going, Ronnie could always get them going that wee bit better. He had a great sense of humour and at competitions he could always settle your nerves with a joke or two, and I still have the 50 pence piece he threw in my pipe box for luck at my first ever competition. Ronnie was delighted when I joined the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band and always wanted to know how things were going and how we were doing and he was always pleased when the band had success, especially in the major championships. On my last visit to Ronnie, although he was ill, he still had that twinkle in his eye and his son-in-law, Torquil, played Ronnie's own pipes for him right up until the night before he died and Ronnie was still asking him to turn round when he was playing so he could see where the tenor drones were tuning. Piping was a huge part of Ronnie's life and it took him all over the world. Whether it was judging in San Francisco or leading his beloved Glasgow Police Pipe Band out of a giant football at the world cup! We will all miss Ronnie and the piping world has lost one of it's greatest characters but he will never be forgotten and everyone has a "Big Ronnie" story. Written by Euan Dewar.
Other related press releases: Evening Times - Hundreds to enjoy dance fest
A fantastic result for Scotland, winning the Calcutta Cup against England 15 – 9. As before we were alongside Lothian & Borders Police, Tayside Police, Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia and Denny & Dunipace Pipe Bands, who endured a torrential downpour of rain while playing the teams onto the park.
The band was delighted to be invited along to play at the Grand Opening of the new lecture hall that has recently been completed at the College of Piping here in Glasgow on Friday 29 February, 2008. This marks a special new era for the college, Principle Robert Wallace said: "Until now, I think the College of Piping must have been one of the only educational establishments in the world which did not have a Lecture Hall and we aimed and succeeded in putting that right this year. We appreciate all the enthusiastic support and assistance that pipers have given us and we hope this will continue. The College staff, the teachers, the Museum of Piping, the Piping Times, and our dedicated volunteers are all working hard at providing the service that the College has always given to piping over 60 plus years. Free advice, subsidised lessons, free museum admission, free CoP TV and Radio on the internet, and affordable publications are all part of what we do as a registered charity and not for profit organisation. This new building will see the completion of the redevelopment project which began four years ago and guarantee that service for the foreseeable future. “We would be extremely grateful to any individual or piping body which can help us with our fundraising efforts." The official ceremony of cutting the ribbon was carried out by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr Michael Martin MP, he also gave a tune on the pipes later to the host of guests, press and many prominent figures from the piping and pipe band community that were also present.
More information about the College Building Appeal and how you can help can be found on the College of Piping Web site.
The song chosen for us to play was a MacDonald battle incitement song from the Montrose wars, 'Clann Domhnaill an Cogadh Righ Tearlach, 1644-45', translated - Clan Donald in the War of King Charles 1644-45. The band is very pleased with the end result and commend Margaret on her new CD and would like to thank her and Iain again for inviting us to take part in her latest venture. The CD is available in all good music shops and also direct from Greentrax Recordings. The second Strathclyde Police Pipe Band Junior Piping Competition took place on Saturday 23 February, 2008 in Smithycroft Secondary School, Glasgow and was hailed another outstanding success. Nearly 150 kids from all over Scotland came to compete and even more travelled from as far as Northern Ireland to attend this event, which is already establishing itself as the firm favourite for junior competitors. With the slick stewarding from the band members and its organisation throughout in being able to manage and handle the huge number of entries, is without doubt proving this to be one of the best run competitions in the country. Over generosity again from all our sponsors is certainly assisting in making the contest a must attend and we are hugely thankful to them.
Pictured are some of the main prize-winners of the day, including Steven Leask from Ayrshire winner of the Overall Under 18 section and Bradley Parker from Northern Ireland winner of the Overall Under 15 section. The band would like to take this opportunity again to thank everyone who attended, the school and its staff and to all our sponsors. The full breakdown of results and photos can be viewed on the StrathPol Solos page. StrathPol Solos - Draw Announced
Please, if you are not intending to compete can you let us know as soon as possible by phoning 0141 532 3177 before Thursday 21st February, 2008, as failure to do so may result in your entry being declined in future years. Thanks and we wish every competitor all the very best of luck on the day.Click here to view the draw in full.
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The second Primary School Festival of Scottish Country Dance took place on Wednesday 26 March, 2008 within Glasgow's Kelvin Hall. The band headed a procession of kids from each school into the arena holding high their individual school banners to the huge cheers from all of the spectators.
John Renton and his Scottish Dance Band provided the music for the ten different set dances ranging from, The Reel of the 51st Highland Division, The Flying Scotsman, The Old Man of Storr to the Dashing White Sergeant. 800 children from over 40 schools came from all over Glasgow to participate in this event organised by Christine Watson, Primary PE Manager for Glasgow City. Working closely with the Glasgow Branch of the 
Saturday 8 March, 2008 took the band again through to Murrayfield to play at the last home game of the 2008 6 Nations Rugby.
Those of you who are regular visitors to the site will remember last year the band were appr
We are looking forward to this year's competition. Nearly 150 pipers have entered and the official draw has taken place, with the first 6 competitors in each event being informed. So all events will start sharp.
The band was invited through again to Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Sunday 3rd February for the first game of the 2008 6 Nations Rugby. As lead band, they were along-side Lothian & Borders Police, Tayside Police, Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia and Denny & Dunipace Pipe Bands as part of the pre match entertainment. For those that seen the game on the television, comment was pasted about the tune "Flower Of Scotland" only being played once through for the Scottish national anthem. This was as per the request of the organisers and rehearsed before the match "kicked off" and will now (as it made the crowd sing much louder) be adopted for future fixtures at Murrayfield. The band also played along-side Lothian & Borders Police Band to welcome the Scotland team bus as it arrived at the stadium.