Northern Ireland pipers lead the way..!

A record number of bands were presented at the 52nd annual general meeting in Lisburn of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, Northern Ireland branch.

The meeting was formally opened by the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Mrs Betty Campbell, who welcomed delegates to the borough.

Congratulations were extended to the champion bands and drum majors, especially the world champions, from Northern Ireland.

They are:  Grade 1 – Field Marshal Montgomery
Grade 2 – Ballycoan, Grade 4A – Killen.  Adult drum major – Alistair Patterson (Field Marshal Montgomery).  Junior drum major – Ryan Ferry (Augintober).

Three bands were accepted as members of the R.S.P.B.A. – Simon Fraser University (Canada), 78th Fraser Highlanders (Canada) and Alberta Caledonia (Canada).  All three bands have been affiliated to the Northern Ireland branch.

A report was presented by the Review Group, set up to examine the work of the Northern Ireland branch

Officers elected for the incoming year were: president – Thomas McCarroll; chairman – George Ussher; vice-chairman – Winston Pinkerton; secretary – Lorraine McVeigh; assistant secretary – Joanne Davidson;  treasurer – Kenneth Crothers; assistant treasurer – Walter McKibben; contest administrator – Mervyn Herron.

All correspondence for the Northern Ireland branch should be forwarded to the branch secretary – Lorraine McVeigh, 16 Mossvale Park, Ballygowan, Co. Down BT23 6LQ