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Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band

Although the Band uses the Northern Constabulary name and is afforded use of police premises for practice and equipment storage, we do not receive any funding from the force. We rely on donations, grants, fees and member fundraising to keep the Band going.

The Band made its public debut in June 2003, and wears the Scottish National (MODERN) tartan. Our Pipe Major is Kenny Watson and his Deputy (Pipe Sergeant) is Bob Cameron. Leading Drummer is Fraser Thomson, and Drum Major is Duncan Macdonald.

_{Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band, Inglis Street, Inverness} 

For information, the Band practices every Monday evening at Police HQ, Old Perth Road, Inverness IV2 3SY (from 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm). The building is closed to the public, but if interested persons get in touch with me in advance via email or mobile phone, someone can meet them and let them in.

We do also have drumming tuition on a Wednesday evening, and are happy to teach interested people in snare, tenor or bass drumming.

_{Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band marching down the High Street, Inverness 21 July 2007}

While we cannot offer piping tuition, we would be pleased to welcome - for example - pipers who perhaps have been away from piping for a while and want to get back into band playing.

We try to take on a balance of community and charity events, competitions and also fee-paying gigs. In addition to "full" pipe band, we can also offer provision of a mini-band (say 4 or so pipers and a small drum corps, which is particularly effective for indoor events)

Other than our win in the Grade 4b Scottish Championships in May, our recent highlights are winning the Street March (Marching & Smartness) competition at Pitlochry last September, and organising the Massed Pipe Bands section of the Highland 2007 Opening Ceremony back in January.

Community Pipe Band has most successful season ever

Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band has just had their most successful and winning season ever! They were placed champion of champions by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association North of Scotland (Grampian and Islands Branch) in the categories of Adult Drum Major, Junior Drum Major and grade 4 Drumming and the end of the season brought a well deserved promotion to Grade 4A from Grade 4B.

To ensure that next season is even more successful the Band are keen to increase their drum section. The drumming tuition, which is open to all members of the community, would be available in snare, tenor or bass drumming. The band are fortunate to have the expertise of two doyens of Pipe Band drumming - Alistair Dowling and Kirsty Edmiston who coach the drums section to such high standards.

So if you have think you have an aptitude for learning to drum within a pipe band and would like to be part of the future success of Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band contact The Secretary on 01463 235672/ 07752572254 or e-mail  secretary@norconpipeband.co.uk.

Practice sessions are Monday and Wednesday evenings 7.30pm to 9.30pm with the expectation that practice would continue outside normal band practice. A sense of rhythm would be helpful. Patience perserverance and dedication help!! It could take anything up to two years before playing at competition level with the band. There are currenly 7 Andante sides used by playing members. Learners would need to provide their own sticks and pads.

For Further details contact

David Conner
Band Secretary
Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band
17 Mackenzie Park Gardens
INVERNESS   IV2 3SU
Tel: (01463) 235672
Mobile: 077 525 72254

email: secretary@norconpipeband.co.uk

Band website: http://www.norconpipeband.co.uk/

What do you think?

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Joined: 04 Jul 2007
Posts: 2

At 23:09 on 7th July 2007, dave c commented:

You can see more photos of the Band at::-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/conner395/

Thanks to Irene for publicising the Band.

Dave

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Joined: 29 Jun 2007
Posts: 2

At 13:22 on 22nd July 2007, Eddie M commented:

Thanks for the publicity the band is getting on the website. The atmosphere was brilliant as we played through the town yesterday. Lots of tourists and a convenient gap in the rain gave us a good buzz. The day was topped off nicely though with the results we got. So far this year the Drum Corps remain unbeaten in our grade, but the year is still young. Next week the Europeans, August - the Worlds. Onwards and upwards.

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Joined: 04 Jul 2007
Posts: 2

At 16:24 on 16th May 2008, dave c commented:

Well, the 2008 season officially starts (for us, anyhow) next weekend 24th May, with the Scottish Pipe Band Championships at Dumbarton. Last year we won at Grade 4-B, so this year we are smaller fish in a larger pond as we compete for the first time in Grade 4-A. Wish us luck, to go with all the hard work and practising over the autumn/winter.

Most folk probably think pipe bands "hibernate" from September to May. Nothing could be further from the truth, in our case. Although we prefer to play outdoors in the summer, we have been known to venture outside in the colder times too. We organised - and played as leading band in - the Pipe Bands performances in the Finale of the 2007 Highland Year of Culture, held in January 2008, and also undertook a variety of events - mostly indoors! - during the "close season".

Now we venture forth again to play in the fresh air - here's hoping it's drier than it was in 2007!

Thanks for your support.

Dave Conner
Band Secretary

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