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Once again it has been a very busy year for the Pipe Band. The year started with an outstanding Grand Day: both the Parade and the Beating of the Retreat were of a very high standard, greatly enhanced, I'm sure, by the only dry and sunny period of weather that month...
Thereafter, we managed to have a fairly free summer break to look forward to - except for a CD to record for the SRU. This was put together in a lightening fast two days at Murrayfield, in collaboration with the Lowland Band of the Scottish Division. If you have not already heard the CD you must make a point of purchasing one on Grand Day (while stocks last) I'm sure that you will have a pleasant surprise at the standard of music that the pupils have achieved at such a young age.
The autumn and winter terms were very busy for the band. We began with a full autumn test series at Murrayfield and countless other engagements filled virtually every weekend.
The Sl piping class played their first official piping engagement in December (having only spent two weeks playing their pipes!!) and rounded off a very successful term with the chance to play the top table in for their Christmas lunch. Well done!
After such an exciting and busy term, the Christmas period was a welcome break, for the pupils and indeed for Pipey himself...
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The Spring term was, in relative terms, a very quiet period for the band which allowed the Drum Major and myself to concentrate on the younger members of the band. We were proud to see some of our younger pipers and drummers playing for The Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust Conference in the Tollbooth Stirling.
One of the highlights of this term was playing on the flight deck of HMS Invincible at Rosyth Dockyard, a very enjoyable experience that I'm sure many of the pupils will have found as memorable as I did.
As always the Six Nations also took place during this term and was a huge success, with a few young drummers and pipers making their debut in front of packed crowds at Murrayfield. I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate everybody concerned, which they thoroughly deserve.
This summer looks like following the trend of previous years and being a hectic one! But I am sure the young pipers and drummers will rise to the occasion and produce yet more performances of a very high standard.
I would like to thank all the parents for their support over the last year, and look forward to seeing the next generation of pipers and drummers' parents in the very near future.
Pipe Major Ross
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