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Strathclyde Police Pipe Band opened this years Glasgow's Hogmanay party in George Square, Glasgow, where over 15,000 revellers braved the cold damp night to take in the New Year. So as to appeal and cater for the younger pop and rock music audience that attend the square for these celebrations, the band put together a special set of traditional tunes to a backing track of high energy dance beats and pulses mixed with creative links of choral voices and huge thunder claps, which blasted out to get the crowd going. This is another first for the band and one that received a great reaction from the crowd. Also entertaining on the night was Glasgow's very own Amy MacDonald who sung songs from her debut album 'This is the Life'. She was then followed by the Dundee band 'The View'. It was then down to DJ Tam Coyle from Clyde 1 to take the square into 2008 as fireworks exploded above the City Chambers. Elvis tribute band 'Suspiciously Elvis' closed the evening playing some of his greatest hits. The night was hosted by Radio Clyde 1's breakfast show host George Bowie. The band enjoys playing at these concerts as it not only shows that the Force can operationally police these huge events extremely well, but can also entertain at them. Many thanks to Martin Shields from The Herald for the picture.
Strathclyde Police Pipe Band would like to take this opportunity to wish all our families, friends, fans of the band and everyone who regularly visits the Web site a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are looking forward to 2008 and have a host of exciting things ahead of us, all of which you will get to read about here. So thanks again to everyone for your continued help and support and we look forward to seeing you all soon. Slainte'.
 Saturday 15 December, 2007 took some of the band's solo players to Glasgow Academy for the Scottish Pipers Association annual competition.
This competition is usually one of the first in the solo competing calendar however was changed to December this year. James MacPhee was successful and was placed 3rd in the Former Winners, March, Strathspey & Reel. Well done James! Other pipers that competed on the day were Rory Grossart and Stuart McCallum.
On Tuesday 27th November, 2007, the band was back playing where it was founded in Govan, for the official launch of HMS Diamond, one of the world's most advanced navy warships. Near 15,000 people including 5,000 school children from across Scotland were invited to attend the ceremony at the BAE Systems yard on a cold and wet afternoon.
The rain did not dampen things too much as the band played for the cheering crowds, a Sea King Helicopter display then took to the skies and to finish the band played again combined with the Royal Marine Band of Scotland, all part of the built up to the big launch.
Suzie Jones, wife of the Second Sea Lord, Admiral Adrian Johns, was approved by the Queen to name the ship by traditionally smashing a bottle of Champagne on the ship's bow. Pat Falloon Memorial Competition On 17th November, 2007, some pipers from our band were invited to compete in the Pat Falloon Solo Piping Competition in the Fort Bar, Dungannon. Fraser Allison, Ross Stewart and Rory Grossart played in the MSR and Hornpipe and Jig. Stewart McCallum gave them moral support and Allan Hamilton judged with Fred Morrison.
Pictured is Jonathan Greenlees (Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band) who won the March, Strathspey & Reel. Andrew Carlisle (also Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band) won the Hornpipe & Jig with Rory and Ross coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The Pat Falloon Senior Solo Competition was one of Irelands most prestigious solo competitions in the seventies & eighties, attracting players from throughout Ireland. Well known judges were brought over from Scotland to ensure the competition was judged to the highest of standards. The main organisers of the event were brothers Pat and Sean Falloon both well known pipers with St Patrick’s Pipe Band from Donaghmore in Co Tyrone. They still take a huge interest in the competition today and are thrilled at it’s revival. Today the competition is organised by Brendan Murphy and his team and they plan to take this competition from strength to strength in future years. Allan Hamilton
 Calum Morrison is 7 years old and a Primary 3 pupil at the Glasgow Gaelic School. He has an inoperable brain tumour and although he is currently undergoing treatment, time is of the essence. If you can help us in any way to raise funds for this lovely, boisterous little boy who adores Dr Who and visiting his family home in North Uist, we would be very grateful. We want to support his mum Suzanne, her family and friends to provide some life experiences for Calum as he progresses through this terminal illness and make his life as comfortable and as happy as possible.
When the band read this - how could we refuse and were only delighted to help!! So, on Friday 16 November, 2007, we headed down to the school in Berkley Street, Glasgow for the fundraising concert. A great night with various performers and acts supporting this worthy cause, with great raffle prizes and Scottish country dancing till late made this night a huge success. The band would like to wish Calum and his family all the very best.
Scottish Traditional Music Awards
For the second year running now Strathclyde Police Pipe Band has been nominated by the Scottish Traditional Music Awards for the "Scottish Pipe Band of the Year" prize. Hands up for Trad will be hosting the fifth ‘Scots Trad Music Awards’ in Fort William from Thursday 29 November, 2007 – Saturday 1 December, 2007. The aim of these Awards is to highlight Scotland’s wonderful traditional music in all its forms and to create a high profile opportunity which will bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media & public attention. To vote for the band log onto Hands up for Trad and follow the instructions then inform all your friends and family to do the same!! VOTING: 29th October - 23rd November 2007. Junior Solo Piping Competition With the huge success of last year's event being very evident by the massive number of entries we received and all the positive feedback from both competitors and spectators alike, the 2nd Strathclyde Police Pipe Band Junior Solo Competition will take place on 23 February, 2008, at Smithycroft School, Glasgow.Entry forms can be obtained from Monday 12 November, 2008 by writing to: Strathclyde Police Pipe Band 50 Stewart Street Glasgow G4 0HY Or downloading an entry form:
Keep an eye on our StrathPol Solos page for further information and announcements.
The band was delighted to be part of the huge celebrations on Friday 9 November when Glasgow was officially announced as host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Playing up on high, along the balcony of the Old Fruitmarket the band started the afternoon's entertainment looking down on the 1300 people who were lucky enough to get tickets for the event.
A television link up was set up to beam through the announcement live onto big screens from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka where all of the 71 countries and territories of the Commonwealth met and voted. You could have heard a pin drop before the Fruitmarket erupted with indoor fireworks and confetti as the President of the CGF Michael Fennell, made the historic announcement.
The party was hosted by Sports Presenter Dougie Donnelly and featured great music from Deacon Blue, Amy MacDonald and the Treacherous Orchestra. Also in attendance were Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
and many of the city's politicians and councillors. A fantastic atmosphere and great to be part of.
Other related story links:
Bill was placed 3rd in the Strachan Cup playing the March, Strathspey & Reel - Kantara El Arish, Maggie Cameron & Dr McPhail's Reel. In the Lawrie Rams Horn Snuff Mull Piobaireachd competition, he played the classic tune The Old Men of the Shells and was placed 4th. Well done to Bill for the good results.
The band is now in preparation for the 2008 Commonwealth Bank International Police Tattoo which is returning to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in May next year with an all new exciting and spectacular show including top performing groups from around the world, thrilling audiences with music, song, dance, precision marching and much more! This special event will feature many never before seen international and national acts, as well as special guest performer Mr Todd McKenney from Australia's hit TV show "Dancing With the Stars". More details about the event and all its participants can be found on the official Web site. The World Solo Drumming Championships took place on Saturday 27 October, 2007 and were held for the first time at the Glasgow Caledonian University. The band was represented by four of our backline in the adult event. Neil Patterson was the first to play, performing in the second of four qualifying heats in the morning and narrowly missed the cut for the semi-finals. Chris McNicholl competed in the third heat and came out on top of a strong pack of sixteen, qualifying Chris for the semi-finals, a great performance for his first year in the adult section. Olav Goud lived up to his reputation, making the final for the third year running, finishing up in 9th place overall, having played the MSR - Donald Cameron, Caledonian Society of London and Mrs MacPherson of Inveran along with the Hornpipe and Jig - John Brown of Campbeltown, Donald Cameron’s Powder Horn and Fraser Allison’s Jig. Olav was accompanied on pipes by Russell Weir and Fraser Allison.
Leading drummer Eric Ward won his semi-final with both judges placing him first, putting him into the final and yet again into the prize list. He played the MSR - Links of Forth, Atholl Cummers and McAllister’s Dirk and in the Hornpipe and Jig event - Moving Cloud and Troy’s Wedding with Donald Mackay and Duncan Nicholson on pipes. Eric finished fourth in the competition, having been placed joint first in the Hornpipe and Jig with the overall winner Barry Wilson. Thank you to Robbert van Gorp for supplying the photographs.
Saturday 27 October, 2007, saw the band involved for the second successive year, providing pipers to play at the Breast Cancer 2000 Grand Charity Ball. Pipers Donald McKillop and Douglas Gilmour provided entertainment as guests arrived and thereafter played Special Guest Andy Cameron and his top table to their seats.
The event was held at the Hilton Hotel, Glasgow and raised over £107,000 a significant increase in last year’s efforts, which will all go to the Western Infirmary Breast Care Unit and Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow.
Our special thanks go to event organiser Douglas Adam and his committee for giving the band the opportunity to participate in this worthwhile cause. Information about the charity can be found at www.breastcancer2000.org.uk.
It is with great sadness that Strathclyde Police Pipe Band has learned of the passing of one of our former snare drummers, John Kennedy.
A full obituary will appear shortly.
 Donald Mackay and Gavin Walker started the entertainment rolling at this years Breast Cancer Care Scotland Fashion Show by playing as guests arrived for lunch at the 5 star Radisson SAS Hotel on Argyle St, Glasgow on Thursday 27 September. As the invited guests were called to their seats they played for 20 minutes on the catwalk no less, before television's Loose Women host Kaye Adams took over proceedings compeering the auction and fund raising events during the meal.
Donald McKillop and Iain Watson played for the evening show, again as guests arrived and on the catwalk before BBC Scotland's Jackie Bird took the microphone this time to continue the fund raising. These events are very well attended with hundreds of generous men and women hoping to raise huge sums of money for the Breast Cancer Care charity, last year they raised over £150,000.
On Tuesday 25 September, the band joined Broomlea School, Abercorn School, Cleveden Secondary, St Teresa's and Saracen Primary for a musical evening held within Keppoch Campus, Saracen, in the north of the city. This concert, now in its 3rd year, is a fundraiser for the various schools taking part and is always well attended and received. A few words from a great supporter of the event, Patricia Ferguson MSP, opened the show then it was over to the band to start with the music, giving a varied selection of old and new tunes before letting each school take it in turn to show of their talents. The audience was treated to a wide range of music from traditional Scots songs to James Bond theme tunes. The evening was drawn to an end by the band playing a few more sets which included the ever popular and intricate "Drum Fanfare" before being joined on stage by pupils of Abercorn School - but before playing the rehearsed finale piece Amazing Grace! Sgt Alan McGeachie who was introducing the bands tunes managed to suitably embarrass the Pipe Major by coaxing the whole audience into singing Happy Birthday to him. Closing the evening with a vote of thanks to all the organisers and participants was local MP Mr Michael Martin, Speaker of the House of Commons, himself a keen piper. An update will appear soon with the amount of money raised on the night. As regular readers of this Latest News column will know, the band supports countless community and charitable events like this within the Force area and beyond every year, giving it the privilege of entertaining thousands of members of the public. Its musical participation in the heart of the community served by Strathclyde Police is paramount and one that the band enjoys as ambassadors for the Force.
Competing against a strong field, he played the March, Strathspey & Reel - Highland Wedding, Maggie Cameron and John Morrison of Assynt House and was accompanied by Ian Burrows of the Drumlough Pipe Band on pipes. The event was judged by Gordon Parkes and this result now promotes Chris to the senior grade, making him the youngest drummer at this level. Chris is preparing for the World Solo Drumming Championships which is 4 weeks away. Well done Chris!!
Pictured are pipers from the band who provided brief pre-match entertainment for an international game of rugby on Wednesday 19 September, 2007. The match, between the Scottish Police RFU and the Australian Police XV national teams was held at Lochinch - Strathclyde Police's Recreational Social Club and playing fields. The final score was 19-15 to the Aussies, winning with a last minute try. A great start for them as part of their UK and Ireland tour. Thanks to Susie for the photos!
 On Tuesday 19 September, 2007, the band was invited to play a on BBC Radio Scotland's 'Take the Floor' programme, hosted by the legendary broadcaster Robbie Shepherd (pictured bottom). This, a special show which was recorded to celebrate the move from their old studios at Queen Margaret Drive in Glasgow's West End to the new state of the art purpose built centre at Pacific Quay down on the Clydeside.
 Also pictured entertaining the studio audience were John Carmichael and his Scottish Dance Band, singer Mairi MacInnes accompanied by Catriona McKay on the Clarsach and
dancers from the Glasgow demonstration teams of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
Take the Floor is the longest-running radio programme in Scotland. It began in the 1930s on the Scottish Home Service under the title 'Scottish Dance Music' to be renamed 'Take the Floor' in 1978 when Radio Scotland came on air. The show will be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland (94.3 FM or 810 MW) on Saturday 29th September 2007 at 19.00hrs GMT. You can also listen online through the show's Web site where you will also be able to hear it for 7 days until the following week's show is broadcast.
Due to the great response from our last performance, the band was invited to play at the final dinner night on Friday 14 September, 2007 in Glasgow City Chambers. The night was organised to entertain the last group of judges across to assess Glasgow's suitability for hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Again playing tunes "Old & New" the band was very well received and enjoyed the night. The final decision will be made on 9 November, 2007.
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Pictured, all smiles, is 
The day was a great success with a meal after the results and then on to a well known local, where all the competitors present and the judges had to play a couple of times during the evening (pictured) closely supervised by 
11th November, 2007 was Remembrance Sunday and was one of the last official full band engagements of the year. Playing under clear blue skies in Glasgow's George Square made it one of the coldest in a few years. George Square was the largest gathering of people in Scotland with over 1500 marchers and hundreds of spectators turning out for the commemorations organised by the Royal British Legion of Scotland. Wreaths were laid by representatives of the Navy, Army & Air Force. Also from all the emergency services, Glasgow City Councillors and numerous youth organisations. Representing Strathclyde Police for the final time at this annual parade was Chief Constable Sir Willie Rae. This was one of his last official duties before his well earned retiral, having served for more than 42 years in the police service 6 of those as Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police.
