East Kilbride Pipe Band

East Kilbride Burgh Pipe Band was first formed in 1962 when a number of local players got together under the leadership of P/M John Campbell. After much fundraising and grants from the local authority and development corporation, the band were able to purchase the necessary uniforms and equipment. Wearing the MacLean of Duart Tartan, the band competed in Grade 4 but quickly qualified for upgrading to Grade 3 in the late 60's after winning numerous competitions including the Grade 4 World Pipe Band Championships held in Inverness that year.
From the early 70's P/M John Hawthorn continued the success in the competition field, with 1975 being a particularly noteworthy season. That year the band were placed 3rd in the Scottish Pipe Band Championships, 4th in the World Championships and 2nd in the English Championships, narrowly missing being upgraded to Grade 2. In 1978 the band recorded an LP entitled "The Spirit of East Kilbride", which helped raise further funding for the band.
Sadly, a lean spell during the mid 80's saw the band downgraded back to Grade 4 as well as a disbandment of the associated juvenile band.
In the early 90's, in an effort to return to the winning ways of the past, the then 2 pipe bands in the town - East Kilbride and Kilbryde - amalgamated under the leadership of P/M Fleming McAlpine to form the present-day East Kilbride Pipe Band. In 1996 Roddy Shanks took over as Pipe Major and the band retuned to form, winning the European Pipe Band Championships, placing 4th at the Cowal Championships and 3rd at the Scottish Championships during a triumphant 1999 season. During this time, the band attended the renowned Ballerup Music Festival in Demark on several occasions, ensuring a strong link between East Kilbride and the twin town of Ballerup.
For the 2005 season, Fraser Dallas was appointed as Pipe Major, returning to his local band where he started-off at, some 12 years previously. With all the experience gained from playing in Grade 1 and Grade 2, Fraser plans to work hard with the band over the next few years to raise the overall standard within the band, once again giving East Kilbride a Pipe Band to be proud of.
We are based in the South Lanarkshire town of East Kilbride, drawing membership from in and around the area, and (due to a successful season in 2007) have been upgraded to Grade 3B, as well as maintaining our Grade 4B band.
Although primarily a competition band, we also support many local events and Gala days as well as Participating in Celtic festivals and cultural trips outside of Scotland.
As a non-profit organisation, we rely on the success of fundraising events throughout the year to supplement the income from band engagements. If you would like to sponsor the band, work in partnership with us, or book us for engagements, then please contact us on our official website:
http://www.eastkilbride-pipeband.org.uk/
East Kilbride Pipe Band http://EKPB-NUMBER1.bebo.com/