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Members of the band were recently invited out to Scandinavia by the Royal Bank of Scotland to perform at some of their corporate Burns Suppers held in Sweden and Finland. The first contingent headed out for Stockholm on Tuesday 15 January, 2008 and played at the House of Nobility (pictured) for a large number of high profile clients at their annual dinner. Bill Geddes and Gordon Shaw piped whilst Gavin Walker and Craig Ingram Highland Danced before all playing together as a band again as part of the evenings entertainment. The boys were then taken onto Helsinki where they performed for more guests of the bank at a similar event.
On Tuesday 29 January, the second contingent of Pipers Donald Mackay, Duncan Nicholson, Don Bradford, Gavin Walker, Alisdair McLaren and Drummers Neil Patterson, Thomas Barrie, Craig Ingram and Alan McGeachie headed for the second evening of entertainment in Stockholm where they played in the main chamber of the House of Nobility for the "Spirit of the Highlands". An informal hour before the meal where the band played, Craig and Gavin danced and organisers, Walter MacGregor and Ian Harcourt gave stories about the band, the kilt etc and explained the reasons to all why we still celebrate the "Life of Robert Burns" today.
The band would like to thank the organisers Walter, Ian and Hanna Lind for all their help and assistance in getting the band out there and for the outstanding hospitality that we received. On Wednesday 23 January, 2008 Duncan Nicholson headed for London with a large contingent of officers from Strathclyde Police to demonstrate about the recent pay awards. Travelling up and down in the same day, he played along with Piper Rab Russell from Central Scotland Police during a service that was held at the Police Memorial on the Mall where it meets Horse Guards parade. Duncan would like to express his appreciation to the Strathclyde Police Federation for looking after him so well.
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.
Members of the band were recently invited out to Scandinavia by the Royal Bank of Scotland to perform at some of their corporate Burns Suppers held in Sweden and Finland. The first contingent headed out for Stockholm on Tuesday 15 January, 2008 and played at the House of Nobility (pictured) for a large number of high profile clients at their annual dinner. Bill Geddes and Gordon Shaw piped whilst Gavin Walker and Craig Ingram Highland Danced before all playing together as a band again as part of the evenings entertainment. The boys were then taken onto Helsinki where they performed for more guests of the bank at a similar event.
On Tuesday 29 January, the second contingent of Pipers Donald Mackay, Duncan Nicholson, Don Bradford, Gavin Walker, Alisdair McLaren and Drummers Neil Patterson, Thomas Barrie, Craig Ingram and Alan McGeachie headed for the second evening of entertainment in Stockholm where they played in the main chamber of the House of Nobility for the "Spirit of the Highlands". An informal hour before the meal where the band played, Craig and Gavin danced and organisers, Walter MacGregor and Ian Harcourt gave stories about the band, the kilt etc and explained the reasons to all why we still celebrate the "Life of Robert Burns" today.
The band would like to thank the organisers Walter, Ian and Hanna Lind for all their help and assistance in getting the band out there and for the outstanding hospitality that we received. On Wednesday 23 January, 2008 Duncan Nicholson headed for London with a large contingent of officers from Strathclyde Police to demonstrate about the recent pay awards. Travelling up and down in the same day, he played along with Piper Rab Russell from Central Scotland Police during a service that was held at the Police Memorial on the Mall where it meets Horse Guards parade. Duncan would like to express his appreciation to the Strathclyde Police Federation for looking after him so well.
Some of the band's pipers were involved in playing at various schools and homes in and around the Glasgow area over the Burns weekend. Gordon Shaw played at the Ailsa Craig Nursing Home, he piped in the haggis and gave 5 different wards a small selection of tunes. He also played at the JP Morgan night at the Radisson Hotel on Argyle Street, playing in the guests to dinner and piping in the haggis where Inspector Scott McEwen gave the address. Ian Watson played for Burns celebrations at St Mungo's Day Centre, Colquhoun, Castlefield and St Joesph's Primary Schools. He played a few tunes, then explained to the kids all about the Police Pipe Band, the pipes and traditional dress. Bill Geddes was also out playing at Westercraigs Nursery School for their Burns Celebrations. Donald McKillop entertained out in Greenock, playing for residents of each lounge of the Larkfield View Care Centre at their annual Burns Day. Donald also played at the 'U' Division Burns Supper in his local town of Troon. Donald Mackay and Gavin Walker played for guests arriving and the top table and to welcome the Haggis at the annual Strathclyde Police Burns Supper, held as last year within the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow. 550 members had a great evening of entertainment and fare. North Lanarkshire Council Burns Supper
 The band headed out to Glasgow's East End for it's first official engagement of 2008 on Friday 18 January, playing at the opening of John Wheatley College's new East End Campus. The bright new building replaces the College's Shettleston campus and is now fully accessible, with a wide range of resources and assistive technologies to also support students with disabilities. The new £14m development at Haghill, is designed as a community resource for the East End and the new campus includes facilities for the delivery of programmes in a wide range of vocational and core skill areas, from introductory level up to HNC's and Access to Higher Education.The band played as guests arrived and up until the official opening ceremony took place. Guests included, The Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr Michael Martin MP and Mr Tam Dalyell MP to mention one or two. The band were very fortunate to have used the facilities of the recording suite in the Easterhouse Campus to record and mix the backing track that was used at the recent Hogmanay event in George Square. We look forward to using the facilities again and incorporating our work with the students there at the college in a wide range of multi media projects.
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Those of you who are regular visitors to the site will remember last year the band were appr
The evening of Friday 18 January, 2008 the same mini band who opened the new college building played at the 12th annual North Lanarkshire Council Burns Supper in the Concert Hall, Civic Centre, Motherwell. A wild night of wind and rain took the band inside to play as guests arrived for their night. 