News
May 08, 2015

Manawatu cancels World’s plans; Potter new L-D

The Grade 1 Manawatu Scottish has decided that a trip to the 2015 World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow isn’t in the cards due to budget constraints and, coinciding with the decision, announced that Leading-Drummer Graeme Parker has stepped down, giving way to South African Gary Potter.

Parker had let the “Tu” corps for five years, even though he lived in Northern Ireland, working long-distance and in-person to get the section in shape. He cited family reasons for the decision.

Gary Potter

Gary Potter takes over from Parker, according to Pipe-Major Stewart McKenzie. Potter had been a member of the Grade 1 Western Australia Police Pipe Band of Perth, Australia, since 2013, and before that a member of the Grade 2 Benoni Mactalla of South Africa. He also played with the Grade 1 ScottishPower in Glasgow in 2006-07, where he also taught drumming at the National Piping Centre, and also previously played for the Grade 1 Auckland & Districts in New Zealand.

“Graeme has been fantastic to work with and leaves a lasting musical legacy to the band,” McKenzie said. “Although the distance between New Zealand and Northern Ireland has been a logistical challenge at times, this hasn’t prevented it from being an enjoyable and successful musical collaboration. He’s brought a fresh style to the band and I feel we’ve produced some good music during his time as lead. I’m sad to see Graeme go but fully understand that his . . .

 

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