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2007 saw the Pipe Band competing in Grade 1 for only the second time in its history. In our first outing of the year, the Scottish Championships, the band finished in 13th place. Progression was made in the following championships : British - 13th, European - 11th, World - 12th and Cowal - 12th. Although at the bottom end of the table, the band has beaten some well established bands. We are now taking a break for a few weeks before the hard work begins over the winter. Tayside Police Pipe Band would welcome enquiries from musicians who are interested in joining as new members and competing in Grade 1. Anyone interested can contact the Pipe Major through the 'Contact the Pipe Band' page of this site. Dunbar Competition The band finished a creditable third place in the RSPBA Dunbar Pipe Band Competition held on Saturday 12th May 2007. In the band's first outing in Grade 1, played in cold conditions, they were beaten by the Vale of Atholl and Clan Gregor Pipe Bands. Strathmore Open Junior Piping Competition Held on Saturday 28th April in Kirriemuir, the band were well represented by Scott Hannah and Kyle Howie with the following results: MSR - 15 to 18 years 1st Kyle Howie 2nd Scott Hannah JIG - 15 to 18 years 1st Scott Hannah 2nd Kyle Howie Medley 2nd Scott Hannah Six Nations Rugby The Band were invited to play at the recent Scotland Rugby Internationals at Murrayfield Stadium along with Strathclyde Police, Lothian & Borders Police, Boghall & Bathgate and Denny & Dunipace Pipe Bands. We played at the Wales, Italy and Ireland games. Despite the disappointing results for the rugby team the band enjoyed each occasion with the opportunity to meet up with the other bands. Award Nomination Tayside Police Pipe Band has been nominated for the Scottish Pipe Band of the Year in the Scots Trad Music Awards 2006. Click here to visit BBC Scotland's Celtic Roots website to find out more about the awards and vote for us online. West of Scotland Branch 75th Anniversary Band member Harry King has recently won a competition run by the RSPBA to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the West of Scotland Branch. Pipers were asked to submit a 2/4 march. Harry's composition, titled Driving On at 75, was picked as the winner by a panel of judges. Harry will now attend at the Branch 75th Celebrations Dinner where he will perform his composition. Dundee, Perth & Angus Branch Solo Competition Band members attended the Dundee, Perth & Angus Branch Solo Competition held at Edzell at the weekend (18/11/06). We finished with the top 3 places in the drumming, with Ian Tobin finishing ahead of Marc Johnson and David Harling. In the piping Scott Hannah finished 2nd in the 15-18 MSR and George Stewart won the under 16 MSR. Promotion to Grade 1 
Tayside Police Pipe Band has been officially promoted to Grade 1 by the RSPBA in recognition of an excellent 2006 season which saw them win several Championship Titles including the Champion of Champions. The Band, who recently attended a Civic Reception held in their honour by Dundee City Council in recognition of their successful season, was understandably delighted at the promotion. The Band have recently accepted an invitation to form a Mass Pipe Band along with other Grade 1 bands including Strathclyde and Lothian & Borders Police at the Scotland Rugby Internationals, starting with the Romania game at Murrayfield on Saturday 11 November 2006. Tayside Police Pipe Band would welcome enquiries from musicians who are interested in joining as new members and anyone interested can contact the Pipe Major through the 'Contact the Pipe Band' page of this website. International Police Bands Music Festival The band has just returned from the International Police Bands Music Festival in Zurich. The festival included over 10 acts from all over Europe, consisting of brass bands, orchestras, singers and motorcycle displays. A crowd of 11,000 watched the display with the band being voted by many as the most impressive act. The Swiss certainly know how to look after their guests, with the band members receiving high quality souvenirs. The festival is held every seven years and the Zurich organisers are hopeful that the band can return some years down the line. This was a fitting end to what has been a very successful year - here's to 2007! Cowal Pipe Band Championships 2006 
Competing against 15 other bands in heavy rain the band concluded the season by winning the Cowal Championships, held at Dunoon on Saturday 26th August 2006. The prizes won included winning the Best Pipe Corps and Drum Corps. This resulted in the band finishing 1st overall in the 2006 Champion of Champions table, as did the drum corps. Congratulations to John and his corps. Despite the wet conditions and long journey, band spirits were high and the celebrations continued well into the night. The band leave for Zurich this Thursday (31st August) to play at the International Police Bands Music Festival before returning on Sunday. Pitlochry on Saturday the 9th of September will be the last competition of the year. World Championships 2006 The Band continued its fine form this season when they were placed a highly creditable 2nd in the Grade Two Competition at the World Pipe Band Championships, held at Glasgow Green on Saturday 12th August 2006. This prestigious event attracted a record breaking 50,000 spectators, who throughout the day saw 236 Pipe Bands competing from all over the world including America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all over Europe. The band competed against thirty-nine other bands from ten countries, and finished very closely as runners up to 'The Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band' from Canada. Pipe Sergeant Lindsay Ellis, said, "The whole band was extremely pleased with the result. We actually finished joint first on points with the same total as the Robert Malcolm Memorial Band, but they were awarded the title on the Judges Ensemble preference."This fantastic result has seen the band increase their overall lead in the Grade Two Champions Table, with the final event of the playing season taking place at the Cowal Championships at Dunoon on Saturday 26th August 2006. Veterans' Day - Saturday 1st July 2006 Veterans of the First and Second World Wars from all over Scotland took part in a Grand March and Parade to celebrate the inaugural Scottish Veterans' Day event which was held on Saturday 1st July 2006 in the City of Dundee. The event was organised by the City of Dundee Combined Ex-Services Association, in partnership with Veterans Scotland, the co-ordinating body of ex-service charities in Scotland. The parade marched through the city centre of Dundee and was led by the Tayside Police Pipe Band. Massed Pipes and Drums made up of various Dundee pipe bands also took part and assisted in leading parts of the procession. British Championships 2006 
The band won the Grade 2 British Championships on Saturday 25th June at Pitlochry. Particularly pleasing was the fact that all four judges placed the band first, a feat seldom seen! Playing their medley for the first time this season the band were placed in front of runners up Bucksburn and District and third placed Ravara. This continues the fine form the band has been showing after winning the Scottish Championships last month. The band was supported by the Chief Constable and congratulated on a fine performance afterwards. Pipe Sergeant Ian Duncan accepted the winners trophy on behalf of the band from North Tayside MSP John Swinney, the Chieftain for the day. Dundee / Orleans Twinning Association The Tayside Police Pipe Band attended the 6th anniversary of the Dundee/Orleans Twinning Association at Orleans, France. A week-long series of events culminated in a ceremonial burning of the cathedral towers and the handing over of the Joan of Arc Standard from the city into the care of the cathedral clergy. The band were a major part of the celebrations and were well received by the local community. Pipe Sergeant Lindsay Ellis finished first in the solo March, Strathspey and Reel competition. The band also enjoyed the company of Ian Duncan and Ian Speirs, both of whom were judging the solo competition at the venue. This was an excellent opportunity for the band to gain extra practice and this paid off in style when the band attended the Scottish Championships held in Dumbartonshire the following week. The band won the Grade 2 competition ahead of Torphichen & Bathgate. |
