All band members are looking forward to the 2008 season when both the newly promoted Grade 3 band and the Grade 4 band are hoping to repeat some of the successes of 2007.

During the coming competition season, two of the five major championships are being held outside Scotland, with the band making long journeys to Birmingham and Lisburn in Northern Ireland, as well as to competitions slightly nearer home.

Pipe Major Fraser Dallas is looking forward to the challenges of playing up in Grade 3 next year as well as helping the new band in its first year.  He said "The band has come off the back of a fantastic season and as such, the momentum and potential within the two bands is huge: we are all very excited and have already started preparation for next season.  The hope is that with the additional band it can give more of our members the opportunity of competing and ultimately be a more successful organisation, further raising the profile of East Kilbride."

The band also recently hosted a social evening in East Kilbride Sports Club to celebrate the success of the 2007 season.  It was delighted to welcome many former members to help the celebrations  along and reminisce of times gone by.  The band was especially pleased to welcome former Pipe Major John Hawthorn who led it to much success in the 70s and 80s.  During the evening a cake to celebrate the band winning the Grade 4B Champion of Champions title in 2007 was cut by Pipe Majors Fraser Dallas, Roddy Shanks and John Hawthorn.

Both bands are currently looking to recruit experienced pipers and drummers to strengthen the ranks, and are also actively seeking a sponsor to help with the general running costs.  Should anyone be interested in joining, or if any local business be interested in discussing sponsorship or even making a donation to the band, then please contact the band via their website at www.eastkilbride-pipeband.org.uk.

These prizes meant the band appeared in the prize list of all 17 competitions it entered during the season, winning a total of 23 trophies.  It was the most successful period in the band's history.

To celebrate this success the band is holding a social evening on Friday, October 26, at East Kilbride Sports Club, and it would like to invite all former members to join in the celebrations.

More information on the arrangements for the evening are available on the band's website at www.eastkilbride-pipeband.org.uk.

The weather could have been kinder to them, but a strong performance in the qualifying heat ensured the band a place in the final.  After a good performance in the final and a nerve-wracking wait the band were placed fifth in the competition.  However, thanks to consistent prize-winning performances throughout the season, that position was enough to clinch the coveted title Champions of Champions - and it was time for the celebrations to begin.  No one was more delighted at the result than Pipe Major Fraser Dallas who praised the consistent performances and hard work of band members.

The previous weekend, the band competed at the Bute Highland Gathering in typical winning fashion.  The band was placed second in the branch championship, winning the Letitia Dowds Memorial Trophy.  A strong performance placed the band third in the open competition.  This was a particularly poignant prize for the band as it was awarded the Iain Dallas Memorial Shield, presented by the band to the RSPBA in memory of drummer and News photographer, Iain Dallas, father of the current Pipe Major of the band, Fraser Dallas.

Pipe sergeant Roddy Shanks said that everyone was delighted with the success of the band.  He continued: "It rained from the beginning of the contest to the end but it was well worth it.  We were very pleased with the result and we are now hoping to be put forward for promotion."

The local band will be competing again in two weeks time in the Cowal Games in Dunoon when the members are hoping to continue their run of success they have enjoyed this season.

Pipe Major Fraser Dallas was presented with the trophy by the Games Chieftain, none other than our Strathaven-based MSP and Minister for Culture, Linda Fabiani.

This result means the band now heads the Grade 4B Champion of Champions table and can now look forward with confidence to competing in the World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green on Saturday, August 11.

On July 7 the band made the long journey to Annan and after a strong performance were placed second, winning the Gerry Kennedy trophy.  Last weekend, the competition was closer to home at Balloch on the shores of Loch Lomond.  This competition gave the band the opportunity to play in the higher Grade 3 contest, and at the end of the day, the band was successful in both Grades 4 and 3, being placed third in Grade 4, and fourth in Grade 3.

The band travel to Inverness to compete in the Scottish Championships on Saturday, July 28th and hope to add to the trophy collection.

Members of the successful East Kilbride Pipe Band are pictured above at one of the recent competitions.

On Saturday the band made the short journey to Shotts Highland Games and were placed second, winning the John Kirkwood Trophy.  Following its success in the previous week, the drum corps won the RP Adam Trophy as the best drum corps in the grade.

During the next few weeks the band will have a rest from the competition field but members are looking forward to their trip to Ballymena in Northern Ireland later in June when they will compete against another 19 Grade 4 bands in the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Associations' British Championships.  Members of the East Kilbride Pipe Band are pictured above with the latest trophy members won from Shotts Highland Games

Following that success, the band continued in its winning ways when they travelled to the east coast to compete against 23 bands in the Dunbar Championships, again coming top of its grade.  On Saturday the band was closer to home, travelling to Dumbarton to compete in the first of five major championships of the season.  This competition brings together bands from all over the UK and Ireland, so stiff competition was expected but the East Kilbride band were placed second to continue its recent run of success.

Next month the band will compete in the next championship, which is being held in Northern Ireland, and members are looking forward to trying to continue their good form.  The band is currently looking for a sponsor to help with the running costs and anyone who can help should contact Roddy Shanks on 232466.

Band members would like to thank everyone who supported the venture which has raised £2000.  The cash will be used to help fund the band’s trip to Ballymena in Northern Ireland in June to compete in the British Pipe Band Championships.

The band has already has success in competitions this year.  East Kilbride Pipe Band was placed second in the Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway Branch indoor competition which was held in Annan on March 31.  This was followed up by the two mini-bands being placed first and second in the Lothian and Borders Mini Band competition at Peebles on April 21.  The first competition of the summer season takes place this Saturday at Campbeltown.  And, with these recent successes fresh in the mind, the band is looking forward to competing with renewed confidence during the coming season.

Anyone wishing information on the band can visit its website at www.eastkilbride-pipeband.org.uk.

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.

So they combined St. Andrews Day celebrations with the Christmas festivities to the delight of passers-by, as they performed outside Siop y Pethe, North Parade.

Five pipers and two drummers formed the mini-band for the cultural event, which was supported by Aberystwyth Town Council, and a number of other local businesses.  The pipers and drummers also did a series of short performances around the town.