News

Sunday 5th June 2011 saw the first local outdoor contest of the year, with cloudy skies and a cold wind making life less than great for the bands again.

The Novice/Juvenile band had a successful day, winning the Best Novice/Juvenile Band prize, and also taking the overall Grade 4B prize and the confined North of Scotland Championships trophy. The Band are pictured right with their trophies.

The Grade Two band performed it's new March, Strathspey & Reel set for the first time playing Mrs John McColl, Maggie Cameron and The Arnish Light, placing 3rd in Grade Two, and 3rd again Grade 1 with the Medley set.

Thanks to Grant Noble for the photos, click on them to download a full size image.

Bucksburn & District Pipe Band held a sell out fund raising ceilidh at Westhill's superb Ashdale Hall. With foot stomping dancing to Hoolichan Ceilidh Band, the dance floor was packed from start to finish with a crowd ranging from 8 months to 80 years.

As always, the Bucksburn & District Pipe Band put on a short show during the evening, with the Novice Juvenile band opening the night with a selection of marches. The group included more than 10 new players making their debut to add to the already strong line up - well done to those nervous faces on the march in!

The Senior Band gave it's new competition medley another run out in it's 4th show within a week as the first major championship of the year draws near, as well as playing some classic march sets.

Our thanks to all those who helped make the evening a success - Linda for all the organising, our volunteer bar staff, everyone who donated to the raffle, and of course all those in attendance for making it such a great atmosphere on the night - we hope to see you all back next year!

Click on the photos to download a full size image.

Source: Evening Express, Aberdeen Journals, Friday 6th May 2011
Review by: Pauline Alexander

When do 100 fiddlers sound like one? When the Aberdeen Strathspey & Reel Society and Banchory Strathspey & Reel Society combine for their annual Fiddlers' Spectacular.

They certainly know how to lift spirits and fire the blood, as did superb young accordionist Craig Paton. The former Aberdeen City Music School pupil, who is also All Scotland Accordion Champion, is undoubtedly a star in the making.

The Junior Fiddlers took to the stage for some sensitive and exquisite playing before compere and Scottish tenor Jamie MacDougall joined fellow members of Caledon.

Cranking up the second half, Bucksburn & District Pipe Band were rapturously received for their outstanding sense of camaraderie, musical discipline and timing and the group are surely a great advert for every youngster out there considering a career in pipes and drums.

Guest stand-up Fred MacAulay may have been a somewhat unusual choice for a Fiddlers' Spectacular, but it worked and the radio star soon had the audience hanging on his every word.

Elvis McPresley, alias the gyrating Caledon, were a massive hit - as was the all-to-soon finale of Highland Cathedral.

The Novice Juvenile band had a winning day out at the first Mini Band contest to be held by the RSPBA Dundee, Perth and angus Branch in nearly 10 years. The event, held at Forfar Academy, attracted over 20 entries in Grade 4 alone, as well as Grades 3, 2 and 1 being represented.

The Novice band placed 1st in the Novice Juvenile category, with positive comments from adjudicators Jim Semple and Alistair Aitken.

The Senior band also had an entry in the trio section, gaining 2nd place in the open competition.

Well done to all!

Young members of Bucksburn & District Pipe Band had a successful day at the Kingdom Thistle Solo Piping & Drumming contest, held on Saturday 16th April at Lochgelly High School.

Lead Drummer of our Novice / Juvenile band Ewan Dallas won the Under 13 Drumming contest, beating a field of 21 drummers from across the country. He played the 2 parted march "Sweet Maid of Glendaruel". Well done!

Andrew Clark placed 4th in the 16 & Under Piping contest. Also competing were Conan Webster, Lachlan Gibb and David Wright.

The Bucksburn & District Pipe Band Awards were presented at the traditional Smoker Night held after the Mini Bands on Saturday 19th March 2011. The annual event is a chance for band members old and new to get together and share memories of the band over the years.

One of the features of the night if the presentation of the band trophies, and this year the band also presented honorary membership to 2 of it's longest standing members.

The Jim McDonald Trophy is annually awarded to a member of the junior band who has shown outstanding dedication, bandsmanship and been a credit to the band. This year's winner was Ewan Dallas, the trophy presented by Band Manager bob Niven.

The Joker Watt Trophy similarly goes to a member of the senior band who has gone out of their way to work for the band, and this year goes to Gus McAskill for his tireless work in organising the band's first major concert - Fired Up, the trophy was presented by V-P Gordon Duncan.

Honorary Membership was awarded to two drummers who between them have racked up over 40 years of dedicated service to the band. Their certificates were presented to them by long serving bass drummer during their time in the band, Graham Gauld.

Keith Mann was another who was influenced by the band from an early age, from lessons with David Duncan and David Brown at the Aberdeen B.B. before going on to spend 24 years as part of Bucksburn & District Pipe Band, serving on tenor, bass, as president, and filling a pretty decent trophy cabinet.

Mike Brown was the first snare drummer taught within the band to make it all the way into the senior band, and stayed there for nearly 20 years serving as Deputy Lead Drummer, Vice President and winning many major championships.

Bucksburn & District Junior Pipe Band celebrated a winning return to the Novice Grade by winning the Novice section at the North of Scotland Mini Bands contest.

Group A won the Best Novice Band prize, while group C won the Best Novice Drum Corps.

The three groups placed 5th, 6th and 10th of 13 over in Grade 4. All three groups were today led by P/M Andrew Clark for the first time.

Well done to you all!

Young Pipers and Drummers had a successful day at the Arbroath Music Festival Solo Piping & Drumming contest.

Piper Andrew Clark had a hugely successful day, winning all 5 categories he entered and best Junior Piper.

David Wright made his first solos appearance in many years to pick up 3rd in the specified composer March, and 2nd in the over 18 Years Hornpipe and Jig.

Ewan Dallas won the Novice Drumming category, playing King George V's Army, and was also named as Junior Drummer of the Day - Well done!

Carrie Watson picked up 2nd place in the Intermediate Drumming category at her first attempt.

Lachlan Gibb won the Under 18 Years MSR event playing Highland Wedding, Blair Drummond and John Morrison of Assynt House.

Jenni Clark won the Under 18 Years Tenor Drumming Section.

Bucksburn & District Novice / Juvenile Pipe Band had a winning start to 2011 at the RSPBA North of Scotland Piping Quartets held at Elgin High School.

The quartet led by Caitlin Drummond (pictured right) won the Novice / Juvenile category and placed 4th of 12 in the Grade 4 contest. The second quartet placed 3rd in Novice / Juvenile and 6th in Grade 4.

A group of Pipers also "played up" into Grade 3 placing 6th overall.

Well done to all our young Pipers!

All past and present members of Bucksburn & District Pipe Band were saddened to hear of the passing of the band's founding Pipe Major, David C. Duncan on Wednesday 2nd February 2011.

On his return to Aberdeen from serving with the Gordon Highlanders "Davie" Duncan put the wheels in motion to create one of the North-East's foremost pipe bands. From 1947 until 1976 his drive and determination in running the band were admired by many in and out of his band.

He took a great interest in teaching the bagpipes, working with youngsters at the Aberdeen Boys Brigade and in later years helping bands in the Keith and Buckie areas.

The sympathy and thoughts of the band go out to the family of P/M D.C. Duncan.

Members of our junior and senior bands gathered 15 pieces of silverware on a successful day at the North of Scotland Solo Piping & Drumming contest held at Elgin High School.

As always, we look at the solos to aid personal development for our younger players, and it was brilliant to see so many of them come out happy with their performances, even those not in the prize list this year.

Well done to the following prizewinners:-

Pipes

• Andrew Clark
  • 1st 15 & Under Slow Air, 1st March & 1st Overall
  • 1st 17 & Under March, 1st Strathspey & Reel & 1st Overall
  • 1st 17 & Under Hornpipe & Jig
  • 2nd 15 & Under Piobaireachd
• Caitlin Drummond
  • 3rd 15 & Under Slow Air, 3rd March & 3rd Overall
  • 3rd 17 & Under Piobaireachd

Snare Drum

• Lachlan Gibb
  • 1st 17 & Under 6 Parts March
• 3rd 17 & Under MSR
• 3rd 17 & Under H/pipe & Jig
• 3rd Overall 17 & Under
• Scott Niven
  • 2nd 18 & Over MSR
  • 2nd 18 & Over H/pipe & Jig
  • 2nd Overall 18 & Over

Tenor Drum

• Jenni Clark
  • 2nd 14 & Under 4 Parts March
  • 1st 17 & Under MSR

Bucksburn and District Pipe Band are pleased to announce that Neil Selbie has accepted the job as Pipe Majors within the organisation.

Neil will officially be welcomed into the Band on the 18th November, when band practice will resume after a well earned break. Neil has a wealth of talent and experience to offer the Band and we are all looking forward to working with him.

Neil was previously Pipe Major of the band from 2002 to 2005 before retiring from the Pipe Band scene to expand his highland dress, drone reed and bagpipe business.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank P/M Robert Stewart for all his hard work, dedication, commitment and time over the past 4 and a half years. Robert has re-built the Band back up to the strength it is today culminating in a great performance at the Fired Up concert. What Robert has done and achieved in such a short space of time is second to none and will be forever remembered and will be a huge part of the Bands history. Robert will always be made welcome and will always be part of the Band..... Thanks Pipe Major Robert Stewart!