Strathclyde Police PB 6, PDQB

The campaign has entered the political arena with West of Scotland MSP Stuart McMillan writing personally to the Chief Constable Stephen House and putting down a motion in the Scottish Parliament.

The letter (right) reads:
'I am writing to you following concerns raised with me regarding the future of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. I am sure you will be aware of the level of concern from people in Scotland and across the world following the article in the Herald on Wednesday 18 February 2009 alerting them to the initial concerns as to the piping future of the band.
'I am, therefore, writing to enquire as to your plans for the band and to see if these rumours of disbanding are true. If so, I would also like to know on what basis you are agreeing to this move.
Further to this I have submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament noting my concerns and those of the cross-party MSPs who have already signed the motion. As I am sure you are aware the status of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band around the world has led to an international backlash for the plans to stop the band playing I know that the band enhances relations within the community as well as acting as ambassadors for Scotland, the Scottish Police and Piping when abroad, to lose this would be a step backwards. I am therefore also writing to you to seek a meeting to discuss the future of the band. My office will be happy to arrange this if you contact them using the details above or at my new office address as of 1 March 2009, the telephone number will remain the same: Unit 27, Sir James Clark Building, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Seedhill Road, Paisley PA1 1TJ
Yours sincerely
Stuart McMillan MSP

West of Scotland Parliamentary Office,14 William Street, Paisley PA1 2LZ;Tel. 0141 889 9519; Fax.: 0141 889 4693; www.Stuart-McMillan.net '

If anyone else would care to write to the Chief Constable his address is: Chief Constable Stephen House, Strathclyde Police HQ, 173 Pitt Street, Glasgow G2 4JS

Mr McMillan's Parliamentary motion 'Don't Silence the Pipers' is: 'That the Parliament notes with concern that the future of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band is in jeopardy; acknowledges that the band has origins in1883, was set up by public request and was endorsed by an act of Parliament; further notes that the band has been a regular feature at the five major events of the pipe band calendar, the Scottish, British, European and World Championships, as well as the Cowal Highland Gathering, but that this will be cut to playing at only two this year; congratulates the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band for continued success in the prize list at these major competitions and for being outstanding ambassadors around the world for Strathclyde Police, Scotland and piping; notes the record attendance for the band's performance at this year's Celtic Connections; welcomes the increasing investment in other Scottish police force pipe bands, and calls on the chief constable to consider carefully the move to silence the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.'

We have to thank Mr McMillan for taking up the cudgels here and hope he gets somewhere with the Chief Constable. I know there has been a verbal re-assurance that the band will get to play at the five majors but there has also been a verbal that their practice times will be at the whim of their Commander Mrs McGuire. That is no guarantee at all. We need a clear, unequivocal statement that the band will definitely be able to compete at the five majors AND be guaranteed the the practice and preparation time to all them to do so.

*

Following yesterday's meeting, PDQB examinations were formally approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority subject to a couple of easily overcome conditions. A formal launch of the new qualifications, which will be available in all Scottish schools and further education colleges, will take place some time in the spring.

Strathclyde Police 5, PDQB

I hope I don't appear to be flogging the Strath Pol PB issue too much. Please stay with me on this. It is important. The petition has now reached 2,200 plus and there have been messages of support and signatures from many notables in the piping, pipe band and music worlds. Stuart Liddell, Gavin Stoddart, Ian McLellan, Jack Lee, Michael Grey, Gordon Walker, Alistair Dunn, Jim McIntosh, Margaret Stewart, Cailean MacLean, Ian D. Green, Dougie Pincock, Niall Stewart, Allan MacDonald, Iain MacDonald, Barry Donaldson, Allan Henderson, Murray Henderson, John MacMurchie, Allan Cameron...the list goes on and on. So all you refusniks (so far) if it is good enough for these important figures please have a re-think and add your support. This is not about me or the Piping Times. It is about saving an important pillar of our pipe band world. We can't allow ourselves to be ridden roughshod like this. The band deserve our support in their hour of need so please give us your name. 

Steven Gillies has written: 'I would like to voice my support for this legendary band and also voice my energetic distaste for what Chief Constable House and Divisional Commander McGuire have unfortunately decided to do to Strathclyde Police PB. I am a fan of the band and, like the police force as a whole, feel it will be a great loss if these plans to shut the band down take place. The global goodwill and support the pipe band has earned for the force as well as the region of Strathclyde and the city of Glasgow is immeasurable and could not have, in my opinion, been achieved in any other way. Please forward this letter to whomever necessary in order to get voices heard......'

On the broader campaign, I had a call yesterday from STV regarding an interview but nothing firmed up as yet. Angus Peter Campbell says he may mention it in his Gaelic column in the West Highland Free Press. Given the connections the band has had with the Gaeltachtd over the years I am sure the paper's readers will avidly await his comments. A nice shot from Saturday's junior competition is below.

*

We are at the Scottish Qualifications Authority today for validation of the piping and drumming exams set down by the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board. If all goes to plan then these exams will be accepted in schools and further education colleges as the standard for piping and pipe band drumming studies and students who pass them will be able to claim academic credits to put towards degrees and diplomas.

Strathclyde Police 4 and March PT

What a pity there weren't a few senior officers at the Strathclyde police junior contest on Saturday. There they would have seen over a 100 young pipers, their tutors and parents all taking part in a perfectly run event. Brilliant PR and Community Involvement all in one busy Saturday afternoon. Are you listening Mrs McGuire?

I said a few words at the prizegiving and encouraged everyone to sign the petition. I see it has now reached the 2,000 total and thanks to all those who signed up, even the anonymous individuals. No one should run away with the idea that these don't count. As far as I am aware you can only submit one email address so there is no danger of multiple entries from the same person.

Well done to Jim Butler of Kilwinning, Ayrshire, who wrote to the Herald newspaper congratulating them for highlighting the band's plight. Jim's letter was published last Saturday. He wrote: 'I was among those who attended the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band performance at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall during Celtic Connections and fully endorse Rob Wallace's comments, which will be echoed by many ('Strathclyde Police Pipe Band may be forced into silence by cost cuts', The Herald, February 18). I read the article with mounting anger. A fraction of the money confiscated from criminal activities would ensure the continuation of this world-class band. Failing that (and I'm certain some bean-counter would find a snag), a voluntary donation of £1 per month from serving and retired police officers would rescue the band from this ignominious situation if, as I assume, finance is the stumbling block. But something needs to be done.' Money will be part of it Jim but I think there is also a visceral dislike of the band from certain senior officers. They just don't understand what the band is all about and the contribution that they make not only to the force but to the wider world as well.

The PT has gone to bed for the March issue and as you will imagine I've given over a fair bit of space to the Strathclyde Police situation. There are also a good lot of other features including reports on Donald Maclean of Lewis, Neil Munro's 'The Lost Pibroch' and an informative piece on what to do if your pipes get stolen. The letters page has the expected response on my 'throw on D' editorial of a couple of issues ago and we have obituaries on Scots Guardsmen George Kilgour and Bob Crabb.

Strathclyde Police 3

Real progress has been made following the involvement of Councillor Paul Rooney,Convenor of the Strathclyde Joint Police Board. Well done to Mr John MacIsaac, Nova Scotia, for eliciting this response from Mr Rooney
'Dear Mr MacIsaac,
Thank you for your email concerning the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. Following the newspaper articles this week. I have discussed the matter with Mr Steve House, Chief Constable. He assures me that the Force remains committed to the Pipe Band and believes the coverage, and rumours, has misrepresented the position. He will discuss the concerns raised by you and others with Mrs Anne McGuire, Divisional Commander, and will report back to me. I hope this has reassured you over the future of the Pipe Band. Best wishes, Councillor Paul Rooney, Convener, Strathclyde Joint Police Board, Garscadden/ Scotstounhill (Ward 13), 0141 287 0234, paul.rooney@councillors.glasgow.gov.uk'
So thanks to Councillor Rooney for that and I have notified him of our petition. Maybe other readers would like contact him too.
Today's Herald newspaper states that Chief Constable House is 'not that interested' in the pipe band and that would explain his extraordinary decision to close the band unit.
However, as I say, progress is being made. The band have been told that they can play at the five majors this year but that their practice times will be dictated to them. As far as I am concerned the current attitude to the band means that these verbal promises are not worth the paper they are not written on. I hear too that the Divisional Commander Mrs McGuire had put the red pencil through tomorrow's junior solo competition and only relented when told that she would be letting down 125 kids who'd entered. It beggars belief.
We need a concrete re-evaluation of the band's position by the Chief Constable.
The PT Petition has risen to over 1500 in less than 48 hours and I am calling on all piping bodies to get on side here. That means the CPA, RSPBA, RSPS and any other bodies you can think of. Every name counts, every moment matters.

Strathclyde Police 2

I understand that a meeting is going on at Strathclyde Police today regarding the future of the band and individual members. They have been advised that they may have grounds for initiating the force's grievance procedure as many of them were not hired for the duties now being assigned to them, nor have they received anything in writing to confirm.
I hope you are all reading the testimonials we have put on the PT Extra page. Some very important points raised and some heartfelt sentiment.
The PT petition is already a huge success with around 1,000 names inside 24 hours. There are a few repeats from people who have not been sure their name has been registered. Rather than sign again, best to refresh the list and check. Also a lot of anonymous signatories, possibly from serving police officers and/ or their families, concerned that they might be compromised if they were found to be supporting our action. Make no mistake the powers that be are getting more and more disturbed by the ructions we are making so let's keep it going.
I have been in touch with the force today and asked for an interview with the Chief Constable and also with the Divisional Commander but with no success so far. I have given them a list of questions I want answered but as yet no response.
I am hopeful that the RSPBA will come on side here and do what they can to support one of their top bands.
The band's annual solo contest is on Saturday at Smithycroft School in Glasgow so why not get along and show your support? It might be the last time the contest is run.

Strathclyde Police

There has been a furious reaction to the story in today's Herald newspaper highlighting the threat to Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. For those who didn't get it, here are my quotes:
"It's a scandal of outrageous proportions, a false economy from people who clearly know nothing about Scotland and its culture. This is one of the oldest and most successful bands in the world. The band was originally known as the Govan Burgh Police band, then Glasgow Police, and finally Strathclyde. They do a huge amount of public relations for the city and the community. But much of that, I guess, is intangible to bean-counters. They won't know what they have lost until it's gone. Restrictions on police players mean the band will not be able to play at the highest level. Without the ambition to do so, the best musicians will move to competitors. There are five major events on the calendar. I understand the band has been instructed to chose just two... they will very quickly lose their competitive edge. They are a national institution. When the band played at this year's Celtic Connections, they had a record attendance. The World Championships bring 40,000 people here, and £5m into the Scottish economy so the cash argument is a nonsense."
I have now launched an online petition. Enough names and I'll present it personally to Chief Constable Stephen House, to Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond and to the leader of the Strathclyde Police Board.
The Piping Times will have more next edition. Can you believe that the Chief Superintendent now in charge of the band, someone called Anne McGuire, has been so petty as to strip the name from the band unit door? Furthermore she has told the band that they cannot play at the annual outing for disadvantaged kids put on by the city's taxi drivers. Two pipers will suffice she says. Please sign the petition and leave a message here if you wish.

Winter School

Sunday
Well everything went very smoothly on the journey over, with 

Ryan Air getting us in on time despite threatening weather conditions. On arrival we discovered that Dave Johnston had completed the auditions for us and the students were 

gathered round the DVD player in the communal area of the Bruggen hostel watching film of the Worlds. Dinner and a few comments re the following day and bed.

*
Monday

Andreas Hambsch (left) was duty piper and had everyone roused at 7am. After breakfast, Assembly where I introduced all the instructors. They laughed when I announced Barry Donaldson as a star piper for Shotts. More to do with the quizzical look on Robert Mathieson's face than 

anything I said I fear. Off to class and my lot started on the 'Detroit Highlanders' from the superb, must have, 'Glasgow Collection'. We don't allow photocopying at Bruggen. Students can either buy or borrow the books. Given the favourable euro/pound rate most bought. Next we went through 'Men of Argyll' giving them two difficult tunes whch go particularly well together, especiallly

 if you go from the latter into the former - nice change of key. We then ran through 'Achmore Loch' and 'Maro Jef ar Penven', two airs. After lunch it was piobaireachd and the 'Lament for the Only Son' ground and thumb. I think they were struck by the unusual timing in the doubling which requires that the high As be timed differently. 

After coffee I sorted out some pipes and used the tuner to expose unsteady blowing

(see Tutor 2).The evening saw us at Cheshire House the home of Maj General RAMS Melvin OBE (right with RW),

commander of British Forces in Germany, and his wife Sigi. Both are great supporters of the Winter School. Before I comment on the rest of the evening I want to thank Barry who volunteered to miss the dinner in lieu of giving the students their evening lecture. I did not want them left on their own on the first night and Barry entertained them with a discussion and demonstration on MSR playing.

Back at Cheshire House we were met in the pouring rain by the General's staff and ushered into a warm room for drinks. At table the General explained that he was completing a book entitled 'Manstein: Hitler's Most Controversial General' - and that it was due out very soon on Weidenfeld and Nicholson. He explained how Manstein often opposed Hitler's military dictat but refused involvement in the political intrigue which led to the downfall of the plotters central to the recent film 'Valkyrie'.

Dinner was a splendid affair. Robert Watt piped us to the table. After the meal the General made a speech at which he thanked the College for doing its bit for British - German relations and presented me with an 18 year old bottle of Glenlivet. It will be opened tonight and the first dram will go to Barry. In turn I thanked the General for his hospitality and generosity and presented him with a signed copy of the Kilberry Book and commented that as a writer he may find Archibald Campbell's well crafted prose to his liking. The General regrets to this day not taking up the pipes whilst at school. He now has his own piper, David Moyes, who he takes on official visits and battlefield research tours. David told us that he had been in the Crimea recently and played tunes associated with that conflict 'The Alma' and 'The Forty and Twa'. There were tunes after coffee and more fine malt and then taxis and home in the pouring rain. 

Profuse thanks to the General and his wife for their hospitality, support and encouragement.
*
Tuesday
Dr Christian Grosser played reveille at 7am. More rain and Assembly at 9am. I reminded students of their need to practice and how serious the PDQB exams needed to be taken. Robert Mathieson got a good round of applause for presenting the offer of a hand made kilt for raffle. Tickets €2. Proceeds to the College.

Classes at 9.30 as usual. The school photo was a 11.30 and the rain did not let up resulting in some soaked kilts and jackets. Our four drum majors did a good job getting the line up organised. Pictures should be available for sale by the end of the week. Classes overran and Barry and Craig Munro were sorting pipes right up till supper time after which there was a instructors' ceilidh with stellar performances all round - everything from ceol mor to a supersonic 'Mason's Apron'

*

Wednesday
My class went through the rest of the 'Only Son' and started on 'Donald Duaghal Mackay'. I also went over various aspects of the their presentation, from marching to tuning. I noticed a marked improvement in the fingering from Monday. Gracenotes were now much more definite and clear. At 11.30 we had a visit from a TV crew and I got a laugh when I told the swarthy looking interviewer that he would be better suited to the Spanish guitar than the pipe. He laughed too, fortunately. Later the same morning a female reporter from the regional press turned up for an interview. She asked me why Germans were taking up the pipes in large numbers and I was able to tell her that people take to good music, whatever its genre, and good pipe music was certainly of a quality that would attract such a nation of music lovers.

The instructors do a spot at the concert on Saturday night and we held a good practice with (who better) R Mathieson as P/M.
In the evening Craig Munro gave an illustrated talk on bagpipe manufacture and Robert on reed manipulation. The highlight of the ceilidh was the playing of Andreas Hambsch who gave us 'Glengarry's March' in full on a lovely pipe (a set of MacRaes he bought at the CoP a couple of years back), and my class, who performed three sets on well set up pipes with Robert doing the honours with the drone tuner (above).

*
Thursday
Final day of lessons before the PDQB exams; 30 candidates mostly 2 & 3; instructors all reported good progress but a great deal of nerves. My class revised all our tunes and we also went over them on the pipes. One thing to have tunes off on the practice chanter; quite another to play them on the bagpipe, the second and fourth parts of 'Detroit Highlanders' proving particularly problematical. That said we had our moments and the tone and fingering was generally very good.

Eva, the hostel manager, printed off some exam papers for me in preparation for the following day and once more she has provided us with a very well run establishment with good food and pleasant staff so great thanks all round.
After supper we had our first instructor's band practice on the pipes. Robert did some work on the chanters and had us sounding very professional with a pitch round about 484 and full sounding drones. Mark Wilson joined us on drums. Our set was 'Donald MacLean of Lewis' and 'Old Adam' then an MSR 'Donald MacLean's Farewell to Oban', 'Maggie Cameron' and 'Lachlan MacPhail of Tiree' then 'Train Journey North', 'Banjo Breakdown' and 'Paddy's Leather Breeches'. The students seemed impressed. After this it was their turn to entertain with the mini band contest and some of them chose to turn up in fancy dress. Others had entertaining routines which raised a deal of laughter. The winners all received free Winter School t-shirts and a lot of applause. I then drew the raffle which raised almost £600 for the College Building Fund, so huge thanks to Robert and the Kilt Centre and to those who bought tickets. The suitably chuffed winner chose to have a kilt made in Robert's saltire tartan. Dancing, country and Highland, followed and then a brilliant display of side drumming technique and trickery from Mark. He's not with a band at the moment. Playing like this, a situation that will not be long in changing.

*

Friday
Exam day and a hectic time for myself and all the instructors. We had 36 sitting 

everything from Level 1 Chanter to Piobaireachd Certificate and Drum Major (this was a basic test devised by the instructor Billy Jordan of Dumbarton and District PB and not part of the PDQB). It always strikes me how nervous some of the candidates get. We tend to forget how much it means to them and how hard they've worked to get where they are. For 

most it will be another year to wait if they blow it. However our system of thorough evaluation of candidates proved a success yet again. Only one person failed and he was awarded a Level 2 Bagpipe instead of Level 3. One remarkable student, Roland Bleisener, arrived as a complete beginner on Monday and by Friday got his Level 1 playing 'Scots Wha Ha'e' and 'Amazing 

Grace' from memory. He achieved a perfect score in his theory. Classes continued for those not sitting exams and later I started collecting in the Evaluation Forms from the students. Most were very favourable with a few suggestions on how we might improve things. We will look at these and if possible take them on board. One highlighted the language difficulties some

have. Most of the students have very good English but

some do not and I for one need to slow down when I address them.
In the evening all the instructors and Dave's wife Heike repaired to a local restaurant for a meal and then on to Theo's pub where we joined the students for another rousing end of course party (see pix above right).
*
Saturday
Tidied up a lot of loose ends and with Joe completed the interviews and workshops with the Tutor Certificate candidates. I also had to do a Piobaireachd Certificate with young German piper Andre Rheinhardt. He passed this strenuous test, the first I have ever conducted. It has been a surprise that so few people come forward for this examination. Maybe the £50 fee puts them off. I think Andre must be the only person in Germany who now holds it.
We presented Eva and the hostel staff with a few gifts and I said a some words of thanks to the students and recommended that they keep up their practice in readiness for next year's school. David reminded them that registration would be from September onwards and intimated that he would be introducing an insurance scheme whereby early paying students would get their money back if unforeseen circumstances prevented attendance.
The evening concert was a sell out affair with a good mix of quality piping, drumming and dancing. There were solos sets from Craig, Robert Watt and Robert Mathieson.
The local mayor, the British Consul General in Dusseldorf Dr Ritter and General Melvin helped us present the certificates and there was a loud cheer when Swiss piper Matthais Kuhn received the set of pipes as the most outstanding piping student. A big thanks to Wallace Bagpipes for putting up the prize and for their sponsorship.
In closing I want to give my personal thanks to all the instructors who did such a marvellous job throughout the week.

Strathclyde Police, Burns Night, Kit Reynolds

Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, who practice regularly at the College, were in during the week working out drum arrangements for their new medley. They are fortunate in having former Tannahill Weaver Duncan Nicholson in their ranks. Duncan is a dab hand on the keyboard and along with Scott Currie was working out the arrangements for the band's 'mid' section. Duncan would play the tune, find the appropriate chords, and that way work out which drum should be playing and when. Scott tells me that in his opinion bands will soon need two bass drums and seven or eight differently tuned tenors to do full justice to modern pipe band scores. Scott says if done subtly these new bass and tenor arrangements will take the pipe band to a new level. I'm sure he's right. Nevertheless there are some basics that need looked at before all the fancy stuff kicks in. The hard, tinny sound of the side drum is one area in need of attention. Bring back the snare!

And on CoP radio I'm critical of some 2/4 march playing and I know that in his recent BBC interview Ian MacLellan, formerly of Strathclyde, shares my view. Have a listen and see if you agree. The Police P/M Don Bradford said their recent concert at Celtic Connections went very well with more than 1,000 people in the audience. Very healthy. Don was pleased with the feedback. Jeannie Campbell has done a review for the next PT.

**

Kit Reynolds' sad passing brought to mind the first day I ever saw the Invergordon band (left). It was at Lesmahagow. Must have been mid 60s. They were a magnificent sight in their new Red Gordon outfits. Alex Duthart's corps (Bert Barr, Kit, Jim Hutton) blew me away. Not that I knew anything about what they were doing but you could not help but be impressed with Alex, sticks flying, miles off the drum, so relaxed, so much lift. The picture is still in my mind. Alex (right) worked at one of the Lanarkshire steel works where former College Principal and now Chairman Dugald MacNeill was the gaffer. Dugald recalls going into the blacksmith's shop where Alex worked and there he was battering out a drum score on the anvil with metal rods.

**

Willie Park and Gary Carruthers in the CoP Shop have received a nice letter from Alex Fergusson the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament thanking them for playing at the Parliament's recent Burns Supper. It reads: "It was always my intention to use the Parliament's Burns Supper to showcase the best of Scottish talent to both national and international guests and the skills and musicianship provided by the College of Piping certainly helped to achieve this.....You will be glad to hear that a DVD of the event will be produced soon and I will ensure that a copy is sent to you."

**

The Winter School from Sunday and if time I'll try to post the odd bulletin here.