Lomond and Clyde Pipe Band - The First Decade
Lomond and Clyde Pipe Band came in to being in March of
2000, changing name from Clydebank and District Pipe Band – itself an
amalgamation of the Good Year Tyre Co. Pipe Band and the Singer (Sewing Machine
Factory) Pipe Band – so as to provide a better representation of the area the
members of the band lived in.
The band commenced competitions this year under the
direction of Pipe Major Paul Warren and Leading Drummer James (Stix) Moore. In
this first season the band was crowned Scottish, British and European
Champions, leading to the title of Champion of Champions for grade 4B being
awarded, a fantastic achievement considering the little time the band had been
on the pipe band scene.
It was due to this success the Loch Lomond Trading Company
(Luss) donated brand new kilts to the band. This was a brand new tartan named
Loch Lomond and District Tartan.
The next season brought more success for the band. Stepping
up a level in to grade 4A, they continued from where they had left off the
season before by winning the Scottish Championship and also achieving a third
place at the World Pipe Band Championships. As with the year before, this
success resulted in the band winning the Champion of Champions title for grade
4A. To go through successive grades in successive years is a rare achievement
for any band and this was recognised by the band skipping a grade in promotion
and going from grade 4A straight to 3A.
Once more, with a sponsorship from Argyll Bagpipes and Kilts
(Alexandria), the band launched a new image, now competing in the Loch Lomond
Millenium Tartan, the one the band still wears to this day.
In January 2005 major changes occurred with new Leading
Drummer Derek Craig taking over control of the drum section with his grade 1
drum corp. Due to the influx of quality the band was reassigned from Grade 3A
and put in to Grade 2 for the 2005 season.
The band worked during the next couple of years to establish themselves as serious
contenders within the grade, including a best drum corp title at the Scottish Championships
in 2006 and a 4th place overall at the same competition in 2007.
After this season the band changed once more with Lead Drummer Les Galbraith
coming in to take over the back end with a new drum corp. This – along with an
ever strengthening pipe corp – allowed the band to post it’s most successive
result to date with a 3rd place in Grade 2 at the 2008 Cowal
championships.
In the September of 2008, looking to the future, the band
enlisted the services of David Wotherspoon as Pipe Major, who had pervious
experience of the role in Grade 1 with City of Glasgow Pipe Band and also had
spent the 8 previous years playing under The House of Edgar Shotts and
Dykehead, winning World Championships along the way. This change was
complimented with the introduction of new Lead Drummer Allan Craig in to the
band.
2009 saw Lomond and Clyde have their most successful season
yet placing at every major championship in the year except the World Pipe Band
Championships. This propelled the band from being a band considered as having
an outside chance of a prize to one that was one of the top bands in the grade.
With the 2009 season complete the band looked ahead to 2010,
and their 10th anniversary year. A major part of this celebration
was the hosting of a Grade 1 Invitational indoor competition in the March of
the year. Featuring 7 of the worlds best bands it was eventually won by The
House Of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead.
Looking towards the season the band strengthened in all
departments. The season was one of constant improvement with the band placing
higher and higher as time progressed. This led to possibly the band’s greatest
achievement to date where it finished 6th in Grade 2 at the World
Pipe Band Championships. Two weeks later the band was once again successful at
the Cowal Championships Not only was the band placed 3rd overall the
drum corp were also crowned Cowal Champions.
The band completed their 10th anniversary year
with a concert taking place in Skye and a dinner dance in celebration of what
had been achieved over the previous ten years.
The band is now looking forward to the next decade and to continue their steady improvement with promotion to Grade 1 being the next goal to achieve.