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16th December 2006 - Compliments of the Season!

East Kilbride Pipe Band would like to wish all of our site visitors the compliments of the season and thank them for supporting us over the last year.  Since being launched back in February this year, we have had in the region of 4,600 hits on the site and as well as leaving favourable comments in our guestbook, many have supported us at our fundraising events, contests and engagements.  We hope to see you all back in 2007...

26th November 2006 - A long, cold blaw in November!

The band braved a cold but dry November morning to escort members of the St. Andrew's Ambulance Service on their annual parade to Glasgow Cathedral.  Joining us on the day were a few of the members from Strathaven and District Pipe Band - thanks go to Mary, John and Eilidh (pictured opposite).

The band now have one last engagement for the year before taking a well earned break over Christmas!

28th October 2006 - Members come and members go ...

In pipe band circles people come and people go and during the course of this season we lost a few members but gained some others along the way.  Saying "goodbye" to the band are pipers Alex Fairley (who has decided to take some time out) and Sheila Kilpatrick (who is emigrating to New Zealand later in the year).  We would like to take this opportunity to thank them both for their efforts during their time with us and wish them all the very best for their future.

The 2006 season saw father-and-son Ian and Mark Haining from Glenboig Pipe Band join the ranks along with piper John Thomson and drummer Ian Patterson - both from Clyde Valley Pipe Band.  All are now settling in well and looking forward to the challenge ahead!  Although the contest season is now over for 2006, the band are all working hard towards making big improvements for the 2007 season and would welcome along any experienced piper or drummer - please see the recruitment section of the website if interested.

14th October 2006 - Awards for All lottery grant awarded

We are very pleased to announce that we have just been awarded a lottery grant from the Awards for All scheme.  This funding will be use to purchase a complete new set of drums as well as some other items of uniform and equipment to replace old inventory.  Thanks must be expressed to our fundraiser, Barry, for his help in pulling together the application for this grant and securing the funding.

9th September 2006 - Good finish to the season at Pitlochry

The band managed a good finish to the season with yet another excellent performance at a sunny Pitlochry Highland Games.  With many of the members staying over the weekend, it was a good chance to relax and socialise into the early hours after a long, hard season!  The band now have a short break before the AGM later this month, returning in October in preparation for next years' contest season, as well as some engagements later this year.

Grade 4 results: 1st - City of Brechin, 2nd - Isle of Islay. [Full Results ]

26th August 2006 - Failed to impress at the Cowal Championships

Sadly the band was unable to re-capture the performances of late and so missed qualifying through to the final at the last Major Championship of the year.  A few key members were missing on the day and so these positions had to be filled by other band members - a big "thank-you and well done" to Claire Sim for taking Bass on the competition field and also to Dougie McKinlay for taking on the role of leading tip.

Grade 4B results: 1st - Kirkcaldy and District, 2nd - Troon Blackrock, 3rd - Cumnock and District, 4th - Belgian Blend, 5th - Denny and Dunipace, 6th - Clydebank. [Full Results ]

19th August 2006 - Missing the magic at Rothesay

Although putting on a reasonable and fairly solid performance on the day the band were sadly missing that "extra bit of something special" in the contest  ring and so missed out on some silverware at Bute Highland Games.  However, with the end of the contest season just around the corner, the band will be looking to put this one behind them and pick up the momentum from previous weeks in order to finish the season on a high.

Even although the afternoons' performance did not go to plan, the band still managed to keep the spirits up and were happy to put on an impromptu session on the ferry home, much to the delight of all those aboard!

Grade 4 results: 1st - University of Strathclyde, 2nd - Johnstone, 3rd - Clydebank, 4th - Dunoon Argyll. [Full Results ]

12th August 2006 - Qualification at the World Championships!

Congratulations to all members of the band for the superb performances given during the World Pipe Band Championships held at Glasgow Green.  The band fought off some stiff competition in the qualifying heats from 50 other bands (including many foreign bands) to progress into the afternoons' final.  Although not making the prize list, the band were happy to settle for a 9th placing overall.

Although missing from the ranks on the day due to the birth of a new member of the family earlier in the week, Pipe Major Fraser Dallas was delighted with the result putting it down to all of the recent hard work and effort put in by all band members.

Grade 4B results: 1st - Killadeas, 2nd - Saintfield, 3rd - Glengarry, 4th - Moneygore, 5th -  Clydebank, 6th - Methil and District. [Full Results ]

29th July 2006 - Missed opportunity at Greenock final

After a strong performance in the mornings' qualifying heat, the band was finally rewarded with an opportunity to compete in the Grade 4B final later in the day at the European Pipe Band Championships at Greenock.  Thankfully the rain stayed away during the tune-up and although a little nervous, the band was sounding excellent with some assistance on the day from Stuart Robertson of Torphichen and Bathgate Pipe Band.  Sadly, things did not go quite to plan in the ring, with the performance being spoiled by a double-toning bass drone throughout.  However, that aside, the band has yet again managed to raise the standard from that of previous weeks and so is gearing up well for the rest of the season.

Grade 4B results: 1st - Grampian Corby, 2nd - Kirkcaldy and District, 3rd - Rasharkin, 4th - Badenoch and Strathspey, 5th - Troon Blackrock, 6th - Clydebank. [Full Results ]

9th July 2006 - So close at Stirling ...

Yet another solid performance was put in by East Kilbride Pipe Band at Stirling Highland Games that saw the band finish in 5th place, just outside of the prize list.  Although thin on numbers due to holidays, the band really excelled and was rewarded with a 3rd place in piping.  The band now look forward to a couple of weekends off, before returning to the competition circuit at the European Pipe Band Championships later this month.

Grade 4 results: 1st - University of Strathclyde, 2nd - Dunoon Argyll, 3rd - Stockbridge, 4th - Kilsyth Thistle. [Full Results ]

24th June 2006 - Potential shown at Pitlochry

The band braved an early rise and some light showers between the morning sunshine to compete in the British Pipe Band Championships at Pitlochry.  Having missed the Scottish Championships earlier in the year, this was their first attempt at the new MAP competition format, and the band put on a sterling performance.  Although not making the final, the band were encouraged with a 5th place from one of the adjudicators, and took consolation knowing that the top four prizewinners came from their qualifying heat.

Grade 4B results: 1st - Grampian Corby, 2nd - Kirkcaldy and District, 3rd - Clydebank, 4th - Fraserburgh RBL, 5th - Burntisland and District, 6th - Ellon and District. [Full Results ]

3rd June 2006 - Disappointment at Shotts result

The band turned on an excellent performance at an unusually warm and sunny Shotts Highland Games, finishing in 6th place overall.  Although disappointing finishing outside of the prizelist with a performance of this standard, the band can now look forward to a few weeks of gala days before the next contest at Pitlochry at the end of the month.

Grade 4 results: 1st - Lanark and District, 2nd - University of Strathclyde, 3rd - Johnstone, 4th - Newmains and District. [Full Results ]

13th May 2006 - Season gets off to a good start at Dunbar

The band used Dunbar Pipe Band Contest to blow-off the competition nerves and cobwebs at its first contest of the season.  Although finishing outside the prize list in 10th position, the band as a whole had a very good performance in a strong field of 21 bands in the grade.  It was the first-ever pipe band contest for both Diane Thomson and Dougie McKinlay, proving that their skill, determination and hard work over the last few months had really paid off.  It was also the "first contest in a long time!" for Alex Fairley who only joined us at the beginning of this year - well done to all of you!

The band now looks forward to learning and building from Saturdays' performance and taking this forward to the next contest at Shotts Highland Games in a few weeks time.

Grade 4 results: 1st - RAF Leuchars, 2nd - Fraserburgh RBL, 3rd - Tweedvale, 4th - Duns.  [Full Results ]

3rd May 2006 - Mhairi brings along a new member to the band

Congtratulations to Mhairi MacAmhlaidh on the birth of her first son, Ruairidh Kai, who was born on 11th April 2006, weighing 9lbs 8.5oz.  Mhairi, a piping student, was happy to bring Ruairidh along to his first practice as she finds playing the practice chanter at home helps settle him!  However, Ruairidh was not quite so sure when the band got the pipes and drums out!

26th April 2006 - Nigel now marketing his Blow Master device

It is impossible to tune a set of drones if the player's blowing pressure is drifting up and down.  Steady blowing is an essential skill but a tricky one for many learners to master.  And it is extremely difficult to tell someone precisely how to manage blowing pressure: it is a skill of co-ordination learned from a range of physiological feedbacks - a piper has to become familiar with what it feels like and what it sounds like when the pressure is right, and to sustain it reflexively rather than consciously: there's a knack to it.

click here to read the full article

Nigel Greeves is a very clever control systems engineer who came up with a handy, compact device to monitor blowing pressure for his Grade 1 City of Glasgow Band, now disbanded ("not my fault", he said).  This season he is playing with his local East Kilbride Band.  "This device wasn't initially made as a product for sale; it was made to address a particular problem, and it worked beyond its original conception", he said.  Word got around and he had to make more.  His son's Grade 2 Stirling & District Pipe Band use it.

Encouraged by the praise it consistently gets, Nigel Greeves is starting to market it.  His Blow Master measures blowing pressure fluctuations directly.  To get a real-time, running reading a rubber stopper is popped into any one of the drones and a capillary tube connects to an electronic measuring device.  It can be watched while you keep playing.

A couple of button pushes calibrate the readings scale to the individual player whose task then becomes to keep the right (green) wee LED light burning.  If the pressure wanders, the illumination moves up or down a coloured array of lights.  The lights make the feedback very easy to see.

With a few minutes, most players are getting pretty good at keeping the right light going - learning as they do so what correct, stable blowing pressure feels like and how to sustain it.  It makes things easy because it radically simplifies the feedback ... it connects directly to the critical parameter.  And the players and bands who have used it find it works a charm.

After some regular practice using the Blow Mater, correct steady blowing becomes a habit.  If you put a bigger or smaller bag, switch to harder or softer reeds or otherwise change your instrument's configuration ... no problem.  The Blow Mater is quickly recalibrated to your new set-up.  A pipe major or pipe sergeant moving around the circle simply recalibrates the device to each player - something that takes a few seconds.  And, if a pipe major is finding a person a new, possibly slightly stronger reed, the Blow Mater can help make reed selection easier.

Nigel Greeves, 11 Glen Grove, East Kilbride, Glasgow, SCOTLAND, G75 0BG.
Phone: +44 (0)1355 242302, E-mail: nigel@BECSystems.co.uk

[Article published in Piping Today, Issue 21 - April/May 2006]

12th April 2006 - Drumming up support in the district

East Kilbride Pipe Band is on the march and is opening its doors for new members to join.  The band has always encouraged young people to be part of the set-up, but it is also the perfect past-time for the whole family to enjoy.  Rather than parents just encouraging their children in their football training or dance classes they can actually join them and spend some quality time participating in the busy activities of the pipe band.

click here to read the full article

At East Kilbride Pipe Band the membership is currently supporting no less that 8 mother/father-son/daughter combinations and this is a link the members wish to further encourage.

Pipe Major Fraser Dallas said this week the band hopes for a good response from the people of the area.

He added: “We have always been keen on getting the youth element into the band.  With the band demanding considerable time during the competition season, many parents feel that they need to be at the contests and engagements with their children in order to help supervise, so joining in rather than simply spectating, makes perfect sense.”

East Kilbride Pipe Band are always looking for experienced players and can also provide tuition – please see www.eastkilbride-pipeband.org.uk for further details.

Pictured above are: Charlie and Ross Hardie, Peter and William Ligget, Nigel and Colin Greeves, Gary and Diane Thomson, Roddy and Colin Shanks, Mark and Ross Burns and John and Claire Sim.  Missing from the photograph are Sheila and Katie Kilpatrick.

[Article published in the East Kilbride News, Wednesday 12th April 2006]

5th April 2006 - More solos success for Diane

Congratulations once again to Diane Thomson for adding to her collection of silverware, this time with a first prize at a recent solo piping competition held in Inveraray.  Diane's performance proved to be the best on the day, and she walked away with the top trophy in the 11 & Under Novice March event.

15th March 2006 - Diane Thomson brings home a medal

Congratulations to Diane Thomson for bringing home a 5th prize at a recent solo contest organised by the Dumbarton and District Pipe Band.  Diane braved the morning after the Ceilidh to represent the band and bet off some stiff competition in the 18 & Under Novice March category - well done Diane and good luck for the forthcoming solo competitions!

8th March 2006 - Thanks for a successful night

We would just like to say a big thank you to all those who made it along on the night to support our Annual Ceilidh - we hope that everyone enjoyed the evening and we look forward to seeing you all again at our next event.  Credit is due to all those who worked hard behind the scenes to help make the night a huge success - without them it just would not be possible.  Be sure to check out the photos and audio samples from the evening in the Media Gallery section.

1st February 2006 - EKPB website goes live!

The new "official" East Kilbride Pipe Band website is now live - look out for lots of new and updated content during the coming months as we expand the site, so bookmark us now!

18th January 2006 - Ceilidh tickets now available

Tickets to the EKPB Annual Ceilidh to be held on Friday 3rd March at the Ballerup Hall, East Kilbride are now available priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children.  Tickets may be sourced through any member of the band.

11th January 2006 - New members for 2006

Welcome to some new faces in the band for this year – Sheila Kilpatrick, Michael Calder, Gary Thomson and Alex Fairley have all recently joined the ranks.  Promoted from tuition into the main band are Diane Thomson, Ross Burns, Dougie McKinlay and William Ligget.