Date set for RSPBA meeting
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
AN Extraordinary General Meeting of the Northern Ireland Branch of the RSPBA will take place on Saturday 29th January in the Bridge Community Centre Lisburn.
Walter McKibben will have the new 2005 Officials and Programme of Events book available at this meeting.
This book is a must for all pipers, drummers and supporters and gives a wealth of information regarding all events in the pipe band calendar for this New Year.
A reminder of the Burns Night Supper, which will feature the world champions Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band under the leadership of Pipe Major Richard Parkes. It will take place on Friday 28th January in the Europa Hotel, Belfast and tickets cost £20, which includes supper.
Guest artists will also include South City Highland dancers, a Side Drum display team, cabaret band and Club Band Fusion.
For more information regarding tickets etc. please contact John Dean on 90 321766 or 90 244979.
Just recently Tom Anderson resigned his position as Pipe Major of the Niagara Police Pipe Band from Canada. It is reported now that he will pipe with the newly promoted Grade 1 Ballinderry Bridge Pipe band from Co. Tyrone.
In his career Tom was Pipe Major of Renfrew Pipe band in Scotland and led them to every major title except the world championships in which the band were runners up six times.
Pipe
Tom was also Pipe major of St. Patrick's Pipe band from Donaghmore, outside Dungannon, who were one of the top Grade 1 bands in their day. He also piped alongside Pipe Major Tommy Geddis in the McDonald Memorial Pipe band from Dromore before leaving for Canada.
In Canada Tom piped with several bands including the 78th Fraser Highlanders before taking over the reins of Pipe Major with Niagara Police just last year.
He was also one of the top solo pipers in Ireland and has been guest adjudicator at the Malahide Championships each year in the South of Ireland.
It will be good to have Tom once again on Irish soil and his expertise will no doubt be a big boast to Ballinderry Bridge in their efforts to establish themselves in Grade 1.
The Grade 2 Windsor Police Pipe band from Canada have yet another change in the leadership of their band. In 2003 their Pipe Major Barry Ewen suffered a stroke and had to step down. He was replaced by James Stewart who led the band to fourth position at the Grade 2 World Pipe band Championships in 2004. James has now had to step down from the post of Pipe Major due to other commitments but will continue to play with the band under the leadership of their new Pipe Major Bill Baird - a long time member of the band.
Leading Tip Greg Dinsdale has also left the band due to other commitments and will not be playing with the Windsor Police in the future.
The Belvoir Drum Majors will be holding their annual Display and Presentation of Certificates on Friday 25th February in Belvoir Parish Church Hall starting at 8 pm.
Guest
The Inspecting Officer this year will be Drum Major Roy Dobson and the guest of honour will be Lady Faulkner, who is also President of Cleland Memorial Pipe Band.
The band will be providing the music for the Drum Majors and there will be many other guests including Highland Dancing Solo Piping and Irish Dancing.
The Frank Rainey Memorial Pipe Band will bring the evening to a close.
For more information please contact Secretary Ronnie Davidson on 90298837.
Ulster Star
28/01/2005
