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There
has been a long history of pipers and drummers in Wick going back to at
least 1884 when they served as part time soldiers with ‘H’ (Wick)
Company of the 1st Sutherland Highland Rifle Volunteers and the
Territorial Units that followed. Although they had already been taught
locally, their skills would be improved by the Army tutors who came north
to train them. As well as playing at camps and local parades they would
attend many local events in the town, so the sound of pipes around the
town goes back a long way.It
was not until after the First World War (1914 – 1918) that a private band was
formed in the town in 1919. Although all details of the formation are lost, we
know that the Band’s first name was the “Wick Comrades of the Great War Pipe
Band” and were part of that organisation which by 1921 affiliated to the
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It
was in 1946 with the return of ex-servicemen that the Band was reformed. Once
again the Band got off to a great start, playing regularly at many events and
street parades. By now there were recruits coming through from the Scouts and
Boys’ Brigade which strengthened the ranks. By 1949 the Band decided to change
back to military style unifoms with MacKenzie tartan kilts and plaids, green
tunics and black belts for pipers and red tunics and white belts for drummers,
both wore white spats. During this period the Band name sometimes took a change
being referred to as “Wick Men’s Pipe Band”. This came about because of
the growing strength and popularity of the Wick Girls’ Pipe Band. They were
beginning to play at many of the town and county events we were normally engaged
for. Our strength slowly dwindled and by the late 1950’s the decline was
obvious but we still managed the Armistice Parade, Kirkin O’ the Council, etc
with a little help from Thurso. |
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We struggled to the early 1960’s
and became more or less defunct.It
was on 20th September 1962 that a meeting was called and all the
deserters and old stalwarts were brought back to argue out the problems and
start again. The newly reformed Band got off to a good start picking up a fair
share of town and county events and raising funds to replace old uniforms and
equipment. The Band never again disbanded and the 1960’s continued as a good
period. The 1970’s were a more unstable time with the Band up and down almost
year by year. The strength of the Band was quite reasonable and we fulfilled all
engagements. In 1973 we received a donation of £1,000 from the council and
uniforms were immediately updated with the addition of feather bonnets. By the
late 1970’s the slide was on again and it took several meetings and a lot of
serious talk to get us on course again
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The next
significant change took place on 2nd November 1984 when the
Band affiliated to the “Royal British Legion Scotland Wick Branch” in
an effort to stabilise the Band. The name was changed to “Wick RBLS Pipe
Band”.
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In 1986 we played at our first Retreat Parade at Edinburgh Castle
with 10 other RBLS Pipe Bands. In 2001 the Band took part in it’s 15th
parade,
From
the 1980’s the Band was well organised and busy. It was better equipped
than ever and instead of any sight of a decline it improved with every
year that passed. Our only problem now was fulfilling our busy annual
programme, averaging about 60 parades and events each year.
Some of the highlights of recent times are as follows:-
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15th
July 1989 |
Massed
Pipe Band Parade to celebrate the town’s Quatercentenary
celebrations. Ten bands took part in an afternoon and evening parade
and a Highland Dancing display by 25 dancers.
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13th
to 18th July 1992 |
The
first “Pipe Band Week” which has proved to be a great success and
continues to today.
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5th
September 1992 |
Dedication
ceremony at Skitten to unveil a memorial to remember “Operation
Freshman” when 34 commandos flew from Skitten in 1942 to destroy
heavy water plants in German occupied Norway, all lost their lives.
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9th
July 1994 |
Massed
Pipe Band Parade to celebrate the Band’s 75th
Anniversary.
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February
1995 |
The
Band purchased the “Old Parish Church Hall” and renamed it the
“Pipe Band Hall”. Now we have our own premises to meet and
practice and to hold all manner of fund raising events.
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8th
May 1995 |
50th
anniversary of Victory in Europe, the Band led many War veterans
through the town to a moving service at the War Memorial and
thereafter to the Parish Church and the Assembly Rooms.
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Into 2001 and the Band marches on, the last 19 years have
probably been the best spell the Band has ever had in it’s 80 plus years
history. The future looks good but we must always be aware of hiccups and make
sure it is no more than that. The present Band is indebted to all the players of
the past who struggled to keep it going and to the many helpers and supporters
past and present, without whose valued help we would never exist.
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Between all of
us the skirl of the pipes will still be heard in Wick for many years to come.
A
new book published by the Band tells the whole story:-
Wick Pipe Band – A History by
WT Lyall and AS Reid, has 144 pages including 70 photographs.
It
is on sale now @ £9.99 including post and packaging)
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