Scottish tunes from the City of Nelson Highland Pipe Band have filled the air for 100 years, and the band is piping up for past members and those connected to it to be heard.
Piper and secretary Lucy Jackson says the band has a trio of celebrations to mark its centenary in September, and since its members have been instrumental in the band’s success, she welcomes all brave-hearted former band members and their families to attend.
“The band wouldn’t have survived without its members, so we want to celebrate and acknowledge them,” she says.
“Hundreds have gone through the band, it’s had its ebbs and flows over the years, but it has always been an active pipe band within the Nelson community.
“I think it’s a really special milestone, there’s not too many groups that have survived this many years, and it’s a testament to all of the people that have run the band over that time to keep that music and comradeship alive.”
Lucy says the celebrations on 28 September include a free public street performance at 1903 Square, a private morning tea for current and ex-members at the Rutherford Hotel, and a ticketed public evening ceilidh (Scottish social gathering) at the Sun City Darts Club Hall.
She says, pipe major J C Scott first tuned the band in 1924 to showcase the local Scots, and it performed for the first time the following year.
“They played at lots of community events, street parades and they used to play at the ploughing championships out at the showgrounds,” she says.
“The most recent performance was at the Anzac Dawn Service, which we do as an annual honour… and we’re still a competing pipe band.
“Today we’re a [14-member] active competing grade 4A band with a learner programme that’s led by very experienced coaches, and anyone interested in learning to play the bagpipes or drums can get in touch and join.”
Email cityofnelsonband@gmail.com if you or someone you know has been affiliated with the City of Nelson Highland Pipe Band and would like to reminisce at its centenary celebrations.
Ticket details for the ceilidh can be found here.
