BAND LAUNCHES ‘BEST EVER’ CALENDAR FOR 2024

The band is launching its 2024 calendar – and an exhibition of the specially commissioned photos taken by Nick Callaghan – at The Loft in the town’s Peffer Place.

With a theme ‘The Rhythm of a Year’, the calendar features band members through the seasons in well-known local locations such as the Nungate Bridge, St Mary’s, Winton Castle, Court Street, the Lammermuir Hills, Nunraw Abbey, and even – for the Christmas shot – on the Haddington rooftops.

“We’ve been absolutely thrilled to have Nick Callaghan do the photography for this year’s calendar,” said the band’s Alastair Bruce. “He brings incredible creativity and quality to the project, and this has enabled us to put together a strongly themed approach with photos taken to mark the seasons and some notable dates through the year.

“The shots have all been taken locally and the fantastic range of locations in Haddington and nearby definitely add to the calendar’s appeal.” Read more “BAND LAUNCHES ‘BEST EVER’ CALENDAR FOR 2024” →

TOP PHOTOGRAPHER TO WORK ON BAND’S 2024 CALENDAR

One of the country’s leading professional photographers, Nick Callaghan – who has worked across Europe and beyond for more than twenty years with a wide range of top companies including M&S, Hilton Hotels, Pernod Ricard, Marriot, Ardbeg, and Scottish Power – is to join forces with the band and shoot the photography for our 2024 calendar.

The Haddington-based photographer worked on all of our early calendars, only stepping down when the success of his business, including a great deal of foreign travel and an intense schedule, left him too little time to support our project. Among his memorable shots have been the iconic image of poppies cascading down on a piper in St Mary’s (created in conjunction with John Archibald) and the Iwo Jima-inspired raising of the Saltire on Traprain Law. Read more “TOP PHOTOGRAPHER TO WORK ON BAND’S 2024 CALENDAR” →

BAND’S 2023 CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE

Exhibition of the calendar photos – with ‘More Than Just a Band’ theme -on show at The Loft

The band’s 2023 calendar – with a theme of ‘More Than Just a Band’ – is now available in a range of outlets locally and by emailing calendar@haddingtonpipeband.co.uk. The cost has been held once again at £5 (plus any postage and packing).

An exhibition of the photos which feature in the calendar is also on show at The Loft Café in the town’s Peffer Place.

“For all of us, piping and drumming is a hobby and a passion – something which, of course, we love to do,” said the band’s Alastair Bruce. “However, to give a bit of an insight into some of the individuals who play in the band, the bulk of the photos in the 2023 calendar feature them doing their own thing in other parts of their lives – cycling, fishing, sculpting, running, playing rugby, and so on. These are shown alongside photos of each of the members featured playing the pipes or drumming.

“We come together as a band, and are very proud to do so, but as can be seen in the calendar, we are definitely more than ‘just’ a band.”

Among the photos are drum major Gavin McDougall in his voluntary RNLI role, young piper Alasdair Easton taking part in a cycling road race, drum sergeant Claire Miller walking the Tour du Mont Blanc in France, pipe major Fraser Wilkinson completing the 2022 Edinburgh Marathon (in a time of 3 hours and 10 minutes), and piper David Paterson creating one of his sculptures.

“We are extremely grateful to the many businesses and organisations who have very kindly sponsored the production. Their support is invaluable. Among these is The Loft, who once again have very kindly agreed to stage an exhibition of the calendar photos.”

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.

BAND’S 2021 CALENDAR FEATURES ‘BEST OF A DECADE’ PHOTOGRAPHY

The band’s 2021 calendar, which is now available, features the best of the many photos taken since we first launched a calendar back in 2011. Photos taken by Nick Callaghan, John Archibald, Garry Menzies and Paul Bock make up the final selection for each of the twelve months, with others on the cover and elsewhere in the publication.

An exhibition of the twelve main photos is now on display at The Loft in Peffers Place.

As it always has been, the calendar costs £5 and the funds raised by sales will go towards the costs of instruments, tuition and uniforms. Outlets kindly selling the calendar for us (look out for the ‘On Sale Here’ poster) include the following:

In Haddington, the John Gray Centre in Lodge Street, plus: in the High Street – Joe Forte Sports, Graham the Jeweller; in Court Street – 2 Court Street; in Market Street – Leisure Time, Short Cuts, Celebrations, Magpie & Crow, Gibson’s of Haddington; in Peffers Place – The Loft.

Outwith Haddington, the calendar is on sale in a number of venues. In East Linton – DJ Malcolm in the High Street; in Pencaitland – Granny’s Shop in Easter Pencaitland; at East Fortune – Merryhatton Garden Centre; and in North Berwick – Anderson Butchers in the High Street.

The calendar can also be ordered online by emailing calendar@haddingtonpipeband.co.uk.

Band chairman Ian Sutherland commented: “The calendar would not be possible without the backing of the many local businesses who support this initiative. The band is a voluntary organisation and a charity and we have to raise our own funds, so we are extremely grateful to those who support this project, to the shops and others who sell the calendar, to the photographers, and to everyone who buys a copy. It really does help us.”

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.”

Read more “BAND URGES PEOPLE TO SUPPORT LOCAL SHOPS” →

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.

Read more “BAND LAUNCHES MOVIE-INSPIRED 2020 CALENDAR” →

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.