| Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band | |
|---|---|
 The band marching along Princes Street in 1980 | |
| Established | 1882 |
| Disbanded | 2013 |
| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Grade | 1 (disbanded) |
| Tartan | Unknown (1882–1900), Red Ross (1900- 194?), Prince Charles Edward Stewart (194?-2013) |
| Notable honours | World Pipe Band Champions: 1919, 1950, 1954, 1963, 1964, 1971, 1972, 1975 World Drum Corps Champions: 1964, 1968 |
The Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band was a grade one pipe band based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The band can trace its origins back to 1882, after the Lord Provost's Committee suggested in February of the same year that a police band be formed. [1] The band was not a pipe band at this time, but did however contain pipers. [1]
The earliest known performance by the band was held on 2 June 1883 when the "Edinburgh City Police Pipers" played a number of sets at Waverly Market. [1]
The police band was deemed too expensive for the force to run due to the large number of musicians and became a town band instead. [1] Around 1900, the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band was formed, led by Pipe Major Norman Graham. [1]
When Graham died in 1910, Pipe Sergeant Hugh Calder took over the leadership of the band. It was under Calder that the band was to win its first major competition. In 1919 the band won the Argyle shield at the Cowal Games, equivalent to the World Pipe Band Championships as they are known today. [2]
After the retiral of Pipe-Major John Burgess, Iain McLeod, already a successful solo piper, took over the mantle of Pipe Major from 1959 until his retiral from the police in 1976. Under his leader-ship, the band was extremely successful competitively and won 5 World Pipe-Band Championship titles in 1963 (Dumfries), 1964 (Ayr), 1971 (Lanark), 1972 (Hawick) and in 1975 (Corby) as the renamed Lothian and Borders Police Pipe-Band. Not only was the band successful competitively during this period, but represented the Police, the city of Edinburgh, Scotland and the U.K. performing at events throughout the UK and Europe, Canada and the USA, Japan, South Africa, Russia and even in Guam. The trip to Russia took place at the height of the Cold War period in 1966, to promote British trade and industry alongside British Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
The music was enjoyed by piping enthusiasts all over the world and the band released 5 albums, as well as making cameo appearances in several Hollywood films including the original Casino Royale, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Battle of the Sexes and Let's be Happy. During the International Edinburgh Festival, they were a regular feature, marching in a daily parade along Princes Street enjoyed by locals and tourists alike; one of the film sequences featured Vera Ellen as the "Drum Major".
On 30 November 2012, the decision to disband the pipe band was taken, due to a lack of members. It was dissolved on 31 March 2013, to coincide with the formation of a new single police force in Scotland. [3]
as Edinburgh City Police Pipers
as Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band
as Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band
as Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band
as Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band
as Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band
as Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band
Scotland is internationally known for its traditional music, which remained vibrant throughout the 20th century and into the 21st when many traditional forms worldwide lost popularity to pop music. Despite emigration and a well-developed connection to music imported from the rest of Europe and the United States, the music of Scotland has kept many of its traditional aspects and influenced many other forms of music.
The Edinburgh Review is the title of four distinct intellectual and cultural magazines. The best known, longest-lasting, and most influential of the four was the third, which was published regularly from 1802 to 1929.
The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming is a British Army training establishment that provides instruction on Scottish pipe band music to military pipers and drummers.
Glasgow Police Pipe Band was a grade one pipe band from Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1883 as the Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band, the band enjoyed its greatest competitive success as the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. It ceased competing as Glasgow Police Pipe Band in 2021.
Lothian and Borders Police was the territorial police force for the Scottish council areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian between 1975 and 2013. The force's headquarters were in Fettes Avenue, Edinburgh.
Whitburn is a small town in West Lothian, Scotland, halfway between Scotlands's two largest cities, about 23 miles east of Glasgow and 22 miles west of Edinburgh. The nearest major towns are Bathgate, four miles and Livingston, six miles.
Strathclyde Police was the territorial police force responsible for the Scottish council areas of Argyll and Bute, Glasgow City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire between 1975 and 2013. The Police Authority contained members from each of these authorities.
Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, which is derived from the Hebrew given name יוֹחָנָן and corresponds to the English name John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename Iain. This name is a popular name in Scotland, where it originated, as well as in other English-speaking countries.
The Scots Trad Music Awards or Na Trads were founded in 2003 by Simon Thoumire to celebrate Scotland's traditional music in all its forms and create a high profile opportunity to bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media and public attention. Nominations are made by the public and in 2019 over 100,000 public votes were expected across 18 categories.
The ScottishPower Pipe Band is a Grade 1 pipe band sponsored by the energy company ScottishPower. The band held a sponsorship deal with British Caledonian Airways from 1969 to 1989.
Roderick Ross CVO CBE KPM was Chief Constable of Edinburgh City Police from 1900 to 1935.
Pipe Major Donald MacLeod was a Scottish bagpiper, British Army Pipe major, composer and bagpipe instructor.
Sir John Henry Orr was a Scottish police officer and was the first Chief Constable of the Lothian and Borders Police. He was also a former Scotland international rugby union player.
Sir John Ritchie Inch CVO CBE QPM was a police officer who was successively Chief Constable of three Scottish police forces.
Sir Iain Thomas Livingstone, is a retired Scottish police officer who served as Chief Constable of Police Scotland. He was previously Deputy Chief Constable Designate of the force. He was named as the next Chief Constable on 15 August 2018 and took up office formally on 27 August 2018. He retired from Police Scotland in August 2023.
The Vancouver Police Pipe Band is a Canadian pipe band based in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the official police band of the Vancouver Police Department and is considered to be the official band of the City of Vancouver. It performs for all citywide, provincial, national and international events available to them. Like many pipe bands in the British and Canadian Army, they performs in full highland dress which includes a feather bonnet. It is the oldest non-military pipe band in British Columbia and ranks amongst the most senior police pipe bands in Canada. In its international visits, it has performed in countries such as Singapore, Japan, and the United States.
The 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums is an authorized pipe band in the Canadian Forces and is currently located at Moss Park Armoury in Toronto, Ontario. The current pipe major is Master Warrant Officer Iain Lang, who is concurrently the official piper to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
The City of Dunedin Pipe Band is a Grade 1 pipe band out of Dunedin, Florida. It is led by pipe major Iain Donaldson and drum sergeant Eric MacNeill.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)