A full house is expected for annual Leapoughs concert
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
THE annual Leapoughs concert will take place on Saturday 26th March in Dromore High School. While arrangements are still been finalised, the star guests will be the Alexander Brothers with compere John Trotter.
This is always a well-supported evening with entertainment to suit everyone's tastes.
The Alexander Brothers are well known visitors to Northern Ireland and have many fans here so it's sure to be a packed house.
Limavady District Ulster-Scots are holding a Burns Night Celebration in Limavady High School on Friday 21st January at 7.30pm. Artists taking part will be Robert Watt on pipes, Emma Culbert on accordion and David Sloan with others.
There will be a traditional Bums Night supper and the cost is £10. For tickets please contact William McKay on 77763974.
The date for the Annual General Meeting of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band' Association is the 12th March. This will be held at the Central Hotel, Glasgow.
Representatives going to this meeting will have the chance. to see the major change in Headquarters in Washington Street. Internally four new refurbished rooms will soon become available with a records storage room, a trophy room, a staff room and a stationery and office supplies room. New gas central heating will replace the old storage heaters and there will be new offices for staff and the Chief Executive Ian Embelton.
Ian said: "We have builders in everyday now and very soon we will have a modern, functional building everyone can be proud off."
Headquarters are already well ahead with the planning for the major championships. 2005 will see the Scottish Championships taking place at Dumbarton on 21st May; the European at Banbridge on 25th June; the British at Tain on the 30th July; the Worlds at Glasgow on 13th August and the Cowal at Dunoon on 27th August.
The Scottish will also be held at Dumbarton in 2006, the British at Pidlochry and the Worlds in Glasgow and the Cowal at Dunoon. Still to be arranged are the Europeans championships.
There will be an Extraordinary General meeting on Saturday 29th January in the Bridge Community Centre, Lisburn. This meeting has been arranged to finalise some of the unfinished business from the last meeting.
The Co. Down Drum Majors are continuing their classes each Saturday in Banbridge, Bowling Club from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The class is run by fully qualified teachers who have all won world championship titles.
Among them are Alan McBride, many times senior world champion, Roger Young and reigning 2004 world champion Brian Wilson. For further information please contact Mervyn Herron on 40624849.
Mervyn is also organising a computer course for compilers. Any young person interested in joining this class please contact him on the above number.
Raffrey Pipe Band are the latest recruits to join the Northern Ireland Pipe Band Association. They will compete under their new Pipe Major, Francis Strain, who originally piped with the band as a boy. Francis will continue to play with Grade 2 Upper Crossgare Pipe band.
The tragic death of Calum Campbell, who was drowned along with his daughter Murdina, son-in-law Archie and two grandchildren while trying to escape the severe storm in Scotland; has stunned the small islands of Benbecula and South Uist.
Calum was a well-known piping teacher on the island and had played for a period with the British Caledonia (Renfrew) Pipe band.
The family were trying to escape the storm when their two vehicles were swept into the sea. Sympathy is extended to all the family. .
Ulster Star
21/01/2005
