Dumbarton and district pipe band
Dumbarton and district pipe band is
The initial support from local pipers, drummers and interested parties was very strong and practices in the Brock Bowling Club commenced under the direction and leadership of Pipe Major Jimmy Jackson and Leading Drummer Jack Haughey culminating that summer with the bands first public performance in Levengrove Park. A number of IDeaS regarding the name of the band and the tartan to be worn were mooted before our tartan, Red Lennox and our name were agreed. A number of local engagements were carried out during the winter of 1968/69 and in conjunction with local businesses and Dumbarton Town Council sufficient funds were raised to purchase new uniforms and equipment to allow the band to parade and compete in 1969 culminating in the band winning The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Grade 3 Champion of Champions. The band was promoted to Grade 2 in 1970 where the Drum Corp was crowned European Champions under the leadership of David Bruce. After further successes the band were promoted to Grade 1 in 1973.
After a few years where the band did not compete it was reformed in 1977 by Pipe Major Gordon Lawrie and Angus MacKenzie and the band was given Grade 4 status. In 1978 the band finished runner up Grade 4 and was promoted to Grade 3. The associated Novice Juvenile band was successful the same year in winning the British Championships. In 1981 The Grade 3 band won the Cowal and European Championships and also finished Runner-up in the Worlds. This success earned the band the title “1981 Champion of Champions Grade 3” and they were promoted to Grade 2. Whilst in Grade 2 Gordon Craig re-joined the band as Leading Drummer and during this period won the World Championship Best Bass Section in 1986. He also led the Drum Corp to victories at the European Championships in 1990 and British Championships in 1998. The Grade 2 band was also crowned British Champions in 1998. In 2003 the mantle of Pipe Major was passed to our present Pipe Major David Bruce.
The re-introduction of a Novice Juvenile band in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s provided the opportunity for local children to learn the skills of the great highland bagpipe, drumming and latterly Drum Majoring. Pipe Major Gordon Lawrie appointed and assisted Glenn Gibson as Pipe Major of this new Novice Juvenile band which won no fewer than nine major titles. The Millennium was undoubtedly the icing on the cake where the titles “World Champions “ “World Champion Drum Corp”,“World Champions Marching & Discipline” and Cowal Champions was achieved by our Novice Juvenile band under the direction and leadership of Pipe Major Morven Hamill and Leading Drummer David Barlow. Since then this band has achieved runner up in the Worlds and again won the Cowal Championship in 2008.
Billy Jordan joined the band as Drum Major from the 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in 2002. Under his guidance, Iona Burns and Andrew Symon have won sixteen Major Titles plus Two Champion of Champions awards. Included in the total are “World Champions” titles in Junior and Juvenile, on three occasions. Billy himself was crowned European Champion in 2009.