Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band prepare for their European championship debut
The Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band pictured earlier this year performing at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships in Edinburgh
The
Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band is gearing up for their debut at the European Pipe
Band Championships in Forres on Saturday 27 June. Made up of pupils from
Plockton High School and the surrounding Primary Schools of Lochalsh, they have
only recently registered with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and
this will be their first ever RSPBA competition, playing in the Novice Juvenile
category.
Whilst the band has been in existence for a few years, it is only in the last
18 months that they have managed to secure regular drumming instruction in the
schools, thanks to some financial assistance from the Scottish Schools Pipes
and Drums Trust (SSPDT), the support of local businesses and some active
fundraising from the committee.
The band now finds itself in a position where they have sufficient numbers to be able to compete at Championships and earlier this year entered and won the 'Debut' category at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships in Edinburgh.
Pipe Major Niall Stewart, The Highland Council’s Piping Instructor for the area
said: "The band is very much looking forward to our first competition at
the European Championships in Forres. I'm sure the pupils will benefit from the
experience of being involved in a major championship. Our Drummers are very
young with 6 of them being aged only 9 or 10 so it will be a huge day for them
in particular. Forres is one of the few Pipe Band competitions that we can
attend without incurring the cost of overnight accommodation so we intend to
enjoy our day and are proud to be representing the area of Lochalsh at the
Championships."