Durham Police makes leadership changes

The Grade 3 Durham Regional Police Pipe Band of Oshawa, Ontario, has officially announced that it has made a leadership change, with Andrew Cairns agreeing to step down as pipe-major and Blair “Buz” Brown no longer filling the role of leading-drummer.

Tom Bowen will lead the band in competition and continue to run its music program, but the official pipe-major of the band is Alex Thomson, who will direct the band in police-force functions and continue to lead the organization’s Grade 4 competition band.

Coming little more than two months before the start of the Ontario season, the band is in need of drummers and is actively searching for new members. Those interested may contact Tom Bowen by e-mail.

Bowen has played with the Durham Regional Police for several years. He was a founding member of the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band, playing with them for more than 20 years.

Cairns, who succeeded George Campbell as pipe-major of the Durham Regional Police in October 2004, has reportedly joined the Grade 1 Peel Regional Police Pipe Band and, according to the band, left on amicable terms; it is not known if Brown is playing with another band.

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Durham Police makes leadership changes

The Grade 3 Durham Regional Police Pipe Band on Oshawa, Ontario, has a new Pipe-Major and Leading-Drummer for the 2005 season.

Long-time Pipe-Major George Campbell has retired and incumbent Pipe-Sergeant Andrew Cairns now fills the post. The band also announced that the well known drummer, Blair “Buzz” Brown of Winnipeg, is now the band’s lead-tip.

Originally from Paisley, Scotland, George Campbell has a storied career on the Ontario circuit. He was Pipe-Major of the Grade 1 General Motors pipe bands in the 1970s. Campbell will continue to be involved with the teaching program of the Durham Police.

Andrew Cairns takes over after several years with Durham Police. He previously played with the Grade 1 Peel Regional Police.

Buzz Brown will officially be the band’s drumming instructor, but will also lead them on the field. The popular Brown was a long-time member of the Simon Fraser University drum section, and also led the successful Grade 2 Transcona Pipe Band in the 1970s and ’80s. Al Harding will continue to be Durham’s official Drum-Sergeant.

A statement from the Durham Police band’s executive says, “The band executive wishes to thank George Campbell for all his hard work, dedication and guidance over the past nine years, and welcome Andrew as the new Pipe-Major with a view to refreshing the band’s reputation.”

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