Clan Gregor collapses
The Grade 1 Clan Gregor Society Pipe Band of Scotland has disbanded following a full band meeting several weeks after the group’s entire drum section departed for the Grade 1 Fife Constabulary Pipe Band.
In a statement to pipes|drums, a band spokesman said, “Due to recent events, the Clan Gregor Society Pipe Band has decided to call it a day after an unsuccessful four-week search for a replacement drum corps.”
Clan Gregor rose relatively quickly to Grade 1 after dominating Grade 2 in 2003. It had been a regular serious contender for prizes at major RSPBA championships. The band enjoyed its strongest competitive year in 2005 when it claimed sixth prizes at the Cowal and British Championships.
Clan Gregor won the Grade 1 Qualifier competition at the 2008 World Pipe Band Championships, and qualified for every Grade 1 World’s Final since 2004.
Former Clan Gregor pipers have reportedly already joined other bands, and Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia is said to be a major beneficiary. Clan Grgeor’s former pipe-major, George Shepherd, who left the band in 2006, recently took over as pipe-major of Dysart & Dundonald.
The demise of the band brings the total number of Scottish-based Grade 1 bands to nine, including the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band, which has not yet revealed its future plans. The Grade 1 Tayside Police attended two championships in 2008.
The RSPBA will announce its grading recommendations for 2009 in October.
“The band would like to thank everybody for their support during this tough time, and we would especially like to thank the Clan Gregor Society who have supported us from start to finish,” the Clan Gregor band spokesperson said.
It’s a massive shame what’s happened to the band, especially after how well the previous season went. Best of luck to the rest of the guys in whatever they decide to do.
Drummers!!! You cant win without them and you can’t win with them……
Man, I thought my band had it bad because we only have 4 sides………I guess I should be so lucky.
Can I just add, Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia are not a major beneficiary to what’s happened to the band. There are only one or two pipers from the Clan that are said to be going there.