Inspired in part by the video ‘Don’t Look Back, I’m Right Behind You’, a new US ladies band is preparing for a trip to Scotland to play at the Worlds and to raise money for an important cause. Andrea Jones reports….
The Rose & Thistle Ladies Pipe Band was formed in 2025 with the goal of putting together a band to play at events and raise money for cancer research. The main body of the band was originally made up of women from around the south eastern US.
From this grew the idea of doing a ‘one and done’, (with a little help from the video ‘Follow Me, I’m Right Behind You’ about the College of Piping band), by competing at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2026.
The unique thing about this band is not only are we all women, but we are women from around the world. We have players from the United States, Canada, Germany and Australia.
We will meet on the Monday before the Worlds, rehearse throughout the week and make our way to ‘the Green’ on Saturday. On the Sunday we will bid a fond farewell, having made new friends.
Rehearsals are not without their challenges as 90% are conducted online. We run a once a month in person rehearsal and have had individual members fly or drive hundreds of miles to be there, one getting stuck in a snowstorm and having to drive home the same night!
The support from home pipe bands for individual members playing in our band has been tremendous, as has been the support from local community groups, family, and friends.
MacLellan Bagpipes have been monumental, as have Melvin Reeds, in supplying chanters/reeds for the band.
We currently sit at 23 pipers, eight snares, five tenors and a bass player. With the help of Kingdom Thistle Pipe Band Supplies, we will have drums waiting for us when we arrive in Glasgow.
The RSPBA has been fantastic in helping us navigate through our roster issues, as we all play in different bands in different associations.
We have chosen the ‘Weathered Spirit of Scotland’ as our tartan. Lavender is the universal colour for all cancers. It serves as a unifying symbol, representing awareness and support for individuals affected by any form of the disease, as well as their caregivers and loved ones.
This beautiful tartan represents all that we want to act for. The band is united by our shared love of Scottish music and culture. Our mission is not only to compete on the world stage, but to showcase the strength, skill and spirit of women in the pipe band movement and to raise cancer awareness through music.
Each individual lady brings her own story and style to the group.
- If you would like to send a message of support to this inspirational band please do so in our comments section.
Bagpiper’s Handbook – Handy Maintenance Tips
A concise yet complete handbook for all pipers. Learn how to tie in a stock, adjust your reeds, test your bag and much, much more. A handy size, the book can be kept in the pipe case for easy reference. The book comes complete with a set of video instructions which help explain each lesson. Access them: here.
‘It is beautifully presented and full of wise tips for pipers’….Fred Kew, Hong Kong
