History and Experience                       +44 (0) 7801 631 735

 
 
  
In 1975 at the age of 10, Richard, together with his sister Debbie and later, his Father Harry, joined ‘The Banbury and District Caledonian Pipe Band’. At that time under the direction of ex- ’Cameron Highlander’, Pipe Major John ‘Jock’ Laidlaw, (above) who, with his wife Margaret, had been running the Band since founding it in 1962. John was also the nephew of ’Kings Own Scottish Borderers’ Piper ‘Daniel Laidlaw’ V.C. (The Piper Of Loos).

   It was at this time, Richard met fellow Piper and long time friend, Steven Duffy. Throughout 1976 Richard gained experience with the Band, playing at various functions, including very long marches in the blistering heat of that famous long hot summer.

   1977 brought more parades, contests and the ‘Queens Silver Jubilee’ functions. The following couple of years saw the departure of Steven Duffy into the ‘Scots Guards, and the introduction of more youngsters into the Band. The Band went from strength to strength, and in 1979 took part in it’s first ‘World Pipe Band Championship’. In this year Richard also gained his Elementary Certificate of Piping ‘ from ‘The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’.

 

Over 30 years Piping cont’d..........


   Throughout the 1980’s the Band carried on covering many contests, parades and various functions abroad including, Germany and Belgium. Richard became Junior Band Sergeant, then Junior Pipe Major, before becoming Pipe Major of the Band by the end of the 1980’s.            

   During this time Richard also learned much of the Regimental side of Piping and Drumming, and the ‘Marching and Discipline’ from Drum Major Patrick Hailey, ex- ‘Kings Own Scottish Borderer’ and Latterly ‘S.A.S.’.

   1990 saw Richard handover the Pipe Major-ship to Steven Duffy, who, with a distinguished Army career, had left as Pipe Sergeant of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, Gaining his Pipe Majors certificate, from the ‘Army College of Piping’, Edinburgh.

   With the new Pipe Major at the helm and Richard now as Pipe Sergeant, the Band moved into its golden era, the Band was now taking on more prestigious engagements, taking regular prizes in competition, including ‘English Champions’ and running it’s own annual ‘Central England Pipe Band Contest’.

   Towards the end of the 90’s, due to work commitments, the Band saw numbers in the Pipe Corps diminish, but with a Drum Corps ever stronger, the decision to merge with another Band was taken, ‘The Scots Guards Association, Pipes and Drums.



Over 30 years Piping.