A range of responses to the ongoing debate on the demise of Grade 1 bands, writes the Editor. Thanks to everyone who took the time to write. However I feel it is significant that nowhere in any of the correspondence is any alternative solution offered. Plenty of negativity but nothing positive. One readers seems happy with only six Scottish G1 bands. (It’s actually five unless Police & Federation get back…
I’ve heard a suggestion that the RSPBA are about to survey bands to ask their attitude to caps on numbers. I hope this chatter is a matter of fact. It would demonstrate a responsible response by the authorities to the disaster of losing two grade one bands in Closkelt and Johnstone, the root cause of which is a lack of personnel. I hope the bands respond positively but am not…
On request, the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) have supplied figures regarding instrumental teaching in schools. It follows the furore two weeks ago over comments by a Head of Education in Ayrshire saying she would rather have pupils ‘on the tools’ than learning music. The 2024 figures show almost 66,000 Scottish schoolchildren receiving music instruction, demonstrating the ongoing appeal of these lessons, and likely reflecting the impact of…
To lose two Grade 1 pipe bands in one week is dispiriting news. Closkelt and Johnstone have gone to the wall both victims of a lack of numbers. Will those in authority wake up? How long has this column, and significant cadre of our readers, been banging on about the need to restrict sizes in Grade One? Don’t the bigwigs at the RSPBA realise that if you allow unlimited numbers…
The loss of the Closkelt Grade 1 Pipe Band is a great blow to the RSPBANI Branch, the local pipe band community and, judging by the worldwide response to the announcement that they had folded, a wider community as well. More importantly it is a major blow to the band’s leadership and committee who worked tirelessly to follow their dream to create a Grade 1 band. They achieved this in less…
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