BAND URGES PEOPLE TO SUPPORT LOCAL SHOPS

The band today launched a ‘shop local’ scheme with a big prize on offer – a personal performance by the band for the lucky winner in a prize draw.

The scheme was devised as a thank you from the band to the many shops, cafes and other traders who have supported the band over many years, and has been put together with the support of Haddington Business Community Partnership, Haddington Farmers’ Market, and the East Lothian Courier.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme, band chairman Ian Sutherland said: “We are indebted to so many wonderful shops, cafes, stallholders at the Farmers’ Market, and other businesses in the town and the wider area and at this difficult time for them, we thought we would try to give something back. This ‘shop local’ initiative is the result.”

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BAND LAUNCHES MOVIE-INSPIRED 2020 CALENDAR

Exhibition of the thirteen original calendar photos by Paul Bock staged at The Loft

Our 2020 calendar – with the theme ‘Haddington Pipe Band at the Movies’ – is now available, after a launch on Saturday 28 September at The Loft. An exhibition of the photos taken for the calendar can now be seen at The Loft, in the town’s Peffer Place, which will stage the show until January 2020.

The thirteen original shots for the calendar have been taken this year by Edinburgh-based photographer Paul Bock.

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GARY WEST AT BAND’S BURNS NIGHT

GARY WEST TO PROPOSE THE IMMORTAL MEMORY AT BAND’S BURNS NIGHT ON 26 JANUARY

The band’s annual Burns Night is to take place on the evening of Saturday 26 January, with the key speaker to be author, academic, musician and radio presenter, Gary West.

Gary, a distinguished piper and presenter of BBC Radio Scotland’s award-winning programme, Pipeline, will propose the Immortal Memory. Music on the night will be performed by Alex Hodgson and Alex Ross, while John Hamilton will propose the toast to the band.

As ever, the event, which will be held at the Scout Hall, is informal and family-friendly. A traditional meal will be served and guests are asked to bring their own bottle.

Tickets (£12; concessions – under 16 and over 60 – £10) are available from committee members, from Joe Forte Sports in Haddington High Street, or by emailing info@haddingtonpipeband.co.uk.

LAUNCH OF OUR 2019 CALENDAR

‘Our Tunes. Our Places’ theme inspired by titles of tunes in band’s repertoire

Our 2019 calendar – and an exhibition of the photos taken for it – is to be launched at the Loft Café in the town’s Peffer Place this Saturday (20 October). The theme of the new calendar is ‘Our Tunes. Our Places.’, with the photos – all taken by local photographer Nick Callaghan – inspired by the titles of tunes in the band’s repertoire and shot in local locations.

Following the launch of the calendar, the Loft Café will stage the exhibition of the 13 photographs until January.

“We have had a lot of fun – and a few challenges – putting these shots together,” said Alastair Bruce, chairman of the band’s board, “and as ever, Nick Callaghan has done a fantastic job. His creativity is there for all to see in shots drawn from titles such as Castle Dangerous, Green Hills, the Haddington Turnpike, My Land, Wings, Lochanside, the Drunken Piper, Dark Island and others.”

Among the locations used this year are Traprain Law (for a stunning sunrise), Pressmennan, St Mary’s Kirk, Nine Stone Rig on the Lammermuirs, Thorter Burn waterfall, and a very rainy Nungate Bridge.

“We are extremely grateful to Nick Callaghan, to the businesses who have very kindly sponsored the production, to many others who have helped us with the photo shoots, and to the band members who as ever were game for participating in the shoots,” said Alastair Bruce.

The calendar will shortly be on sale for £5 at various shops, libraries and other outlets – including the Loft – locally. It can also be purchased online by emailing calendar@haddingtonpipeband.co.uk.

All funds raised from this calendar will be used to pay for tuition, instruments, uniforms and other initiatives which help the band to develop and make a positive contribution to the town and the community.

BURNS NIGHT TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY 27 JANUARY

The band’s annual Burns Night is to take place on the evening of Saturday 27 January, with the Scout Hall again the venue. Among the distinguished speakers are Ian Sutherland, who will be giving the Immortal Memory; David Leckie, who will give the toast to the haggis; and Garry Menzies, who will perform Holy Willie’s Prayer. Joe Forte will offer the toast to the band, while the assembled company will deliver the epic Tam O’Shanter and music will be provided by Stuart Davie and Jim Wilson.

Tickets (£12, concessions £10) are available from committee members or from Joe Forte Sports in Haddington High Street.

BAND’S 2017 AWARD WINNERS

Haddington Pipe Band’s 2017 award winners with the Provost of East Lothian, John McMillan, at our AGM. Left to right: Alexander Hogg, winner of the Gail Wilkinson Award for the most improved young piper, Provost John McMillan, David Paterson, winner of the Band Member of the Year, and Catriona Dee, winner of the Niall Fairgrieve Award for the most improved young drummer.

BAND LAUNCHES ITS 2018 CALENDAR 

Haddington Pipe Band is to launch its 2018 calendar this Saturday (21 October) morning, with the theme of this year’s photographs – all taken by local photographer Nick Callaghan – being ‘Celebrating Haddington and Our Local Area’.

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Succesful boot camp held

Another very successful band Boot Camp was held over the weekend of 29/30 July, with pipers and drummers working on new tunes, new scores and some tunes from the current repertoire.

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