Polkemmet hoping to find replacement pipe-major

The Polkemmet Pipe Band, one of the world’s oldest civilian bands, says that it will work hard to find a new pipe-major after David Barnes left earlier in September to take over the Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band.

“On behalf of the band I would like to thank David for taking on the positions of pipe-major [and] secretary, and for the personal sacrifices he has made over the last three years,” said Ian McAlister, who is with Polkemmet. “There is no doubt that the band is most certainly in a better state than it was at the time of David’s arrival, both in the quality of equipment it possesses and, although not cash-rich, financially.”

McAlister said that the band will hold a special meeting to discuss its future. Polkemmet is opening the pipe-major position to applicants, and invite interested parties to contact them by e-mail.

David Barnes took over as Polkemmet pipe-major in 2003, and is the son of the late Johnny Barnes, who built Polkemmet Colliery into a contending Grade 1 band before retiring in 1982, handing over leadership to Robert Mathieson.

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