NEWS

See the Schedule page for upcoming events.

Len Sharland

On the 16th of December, former band drummer Len Sharland passed away at the age of 93. Len played snare drum when the band was called the Royal Canadian Legion Pipe Band and was also the drumming instructor for the Moose Girls' Pipe Band in the 1960s. Len's most recent band gig was playing Scotland the Brave with the band on his 90th birthday. Len's father, also Len, was the bass drummer in the band when it was formed in 1912, and as Band Secretary, hand wrote the original band constitution, now in the Esplanade Archives.

"Scotty" Irvine Funeral

Scotty was a snare drummer in the band for two different stints. We also saw Scotty most recently addressing the haggis at the Redcliff Legion Burns Supper. We were honoured to be asked to perform at his funeral on November 1st. We assembled four pipers and three drummers and marched in to Highland Cathedral and out to Green Hills. Hopefully Scotty was smiling down on us.

Band Personnel Changes

It is inevitable that changes occur in every band.... We are sad to lose three drummers recently: Lea due to work commitments, Wendy due to back strain and Tami moving to be closer to her family in BC. We'll miss Tami but hope to see Lea back on the sticks when work allows and we'll surely see Wendy in September with her practice chanter. We are also without the services of long-time band piper Tarra who is on medical leave. We hope to see her back soon! Our newest snare drummer Stirling joins Mike and Abey although there's this wee thing about going away to school in the fall.... One of our drumming students, Seb, joined us on the Foremost parade with the bass, and is now our new Bass drummer.

Raindrops keep draining down my neck..."

It was probably inevitable. We are one of the few bands left that wore the traditional balmoral. Now, they are hard to get and the band has elected to move to glengarries. Like every other band. Uniqueness was not the only benefit of the balmorals, who doesn't like to stand out in a crowd.... But the balmoral had a practical purpose: sun in your eyes, pull it forward. Raining, make sure it slopes to the side. No frisbies available? Well, you get the picture. Practical. But, bowing to the inevitable, we will now put the eavestrough on our head and squint into the sun. PS, the foregoing opinions are those of the webmaster and do not reflect the general membership's views.

New Band School Location

In October 2023 we moved to a new location for Monday and Thursday band school and band practice: the Freemasons' Hall at 44 Bannon Avenue SW. We are very grateful to the Masons for opening their doors to us. We are equally grateful to the Medicine Hat Shriners who have hosted us in their hall these past several years.