St Laurence O’ Toole Pipe Band will headline the ‘Kids with Cancer Charity Concert’ on Saturday 22nd March, 2025, in the Royal Hotel, Cookstown. SLOT, under the leadership of P/M Alen Tully and L/D Stephen Creighton, are the current UK Champions and World Champion drum corps.
Also on the programme will be a ’70s tribute band with P/M David Caldwell and John Scullion in charge. As this is the first pipe band event in Northern Ireland since Richard Parkes retired from Field Marshal Montgomery, there will a tribute to him for his years of dedication and outstanding achievements.
Three World Solos Drumming champions performing are Ashley Steele, Ethan Young and Jamie Coffey. William Glenholmes, third in the adult section, will also play.
Please keep this date free and come along for another great night of music and help raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity. So far you have raised an unbelievable total of £75,037 for the unit. To book seats, pay with PayPal using kidswithcancer2020@outlook.com .
World Solo Drumming
This took place at Glasgow Caledonian University in October and NI drummers were in the prizes in all grades they entered. The 2024 World Adult Champion was Steven McWhirter, formerly from County Antrim, while Field Marshal’s William Glenholmes and Gareth McLees were 3rd and 4th respectively.
Three Syerla drummers, Ethan Young, Matthew Brownlee and Lexi Kerr took home prizes, as did Ravara’s Callum Freeburn and Jamie Blair, FM’s Jamie Coffey and Lewis Doherty, Closkelt’s Joshua Green, Hollymount’s Ashley Steele, and Jacob Laird of Bready Ulster Scots.
P/M David Hanna
Prior to their AGM, Newry-based Altnaveigh Memorial surprised P/M David Hanna with a presentation to mark his amazing 50 year tenure. This is without a doubt an incredible milestone and one which I am sure has had its ups and downs – such is the nature of any organisation.
Over the decades many people have played in the band and every one of them holds David in high esteem. It is fitting that the band are on a run of two very successful seasons and will be back on the grass in 2025. Many congratulations on this achievement David and may you have many more enjoyable and rewarding years at the helm of the band.
Blackthorn Pipers
Guest piper on November 20th was Jason McCallister. Jason started learning when he was 11 with Geohegan Memorial with tuition from both David and Uel Weir. Unfortunately, the following year (2011) the band didn’t have the numbers to compete and Jason moved on Gransha, the first band he competed with. After three years he started doing solos, getting tuition from Kevin Rogers. From there he made the jump to St Laurence O’Toole in 2014 where he played for six years. After the pandemic he joined Field Marshal Montgomery.
FMM Leading Tip
Change is not something that Field Marshal Montgomery have been synonymous with over the years, however in just three months we have seen the retirement of Richard Parkes, the announcement that the band had parted company with L/D Gareth McLees (who took over the role from Keith Orr at the end of 2022), and the appointment of William Glenholmes in his place.
Gareth’s two year tenure was successful leading his corps to the 2023 Grade 1 Champion of Champions title with wins at the UK and European’s and seconds at the Scottish and Worlds. This past season the corps remained in contention at each RSPBA major, finishing fourth in the CoC table thanks to seconds at the UK, European and Scottish Championships.
William Glenholmes learnt his craft under Adrian Hoy at Cullybackey. Later he played with Shotts before moving with Adrian to Vale of Atholl before joining Field Marshal Montgomery around 2023.
As a solo drummer William has had significant success with four All-Ireland, and eight Ulster Championship titles and has finished in the top six at numerous World Solo Drumming competitions. In a statement new FM P/M Matt Wilson welcomed the appointment and stressed the importance of the support that William had received from other members of the drum corps.
