Glasgow Police Pipe Band

{{Short description|Scottish pipe band}} {{Infobox pipe band | name = Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band | image = Cowal2007 strathclyde police.jpg | caption = The band at the [[Cowal Highland Gathering]] in 2007 | established = 1883 | location = [[Glasgow]] | grade = 1 | tartan = Royal Stewart [[File:Royal Stewart tartan, tileable.png|220x124px|frameless]] | honours = '''World Pipe Band Champions:''' 1920, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 '''World Drum Corps Champions''': 1936, 1951, 1952, 1972

'''RSPBA Champion of Champions:''' 1967, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

'''British Pipe Band Champions:''' 1967, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2003

'''Scottish Pipe Band Champions:''' 1966, 1981, 1985, 1988, 2007

'''European Pipe Band Champions:''' 1964, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006 '''Cowal Gathering Pipe Band Champions:''' 1920, 1930, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 2006

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'''Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band''' is a [[Pipe band#Grading system|grade one]] [[pipe band]] from [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]. Founded in 1883 as the '''Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band''', the band enjoyed its greatest competitive success as the '''[[Strathclyde Police]] Pipe Band'''.

==History== [[File:Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band.jpg|thumb|left|Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band]] The band was one of the first civilian bands in Britain when it formed in 1883 as the Burgh of [[Govan]] Police Pipe Band.<ref name=early>{{cite web |url=http://www.glasgowpolicepb.org/pipe-major-walter-drysdale-1890-to-1898/pipe-major-john-macdonald-1932-to-1958/ |title=Band History – The Early Years |publisher=glasgowpolicepb.org |accessdate=15 June 2015}}</ref> The first [[pipe major]] was William Bremer, who was succeeded by Walter Drysdale in 1890, who was in turn succeeded by Alexander Hutcheon in 1898.<ref name=early/> The band enjoyed a good reputation, and was recognised nationally for its quality.<ref name=thb>{{cite book|last=Manson|first=William Laird|title=The Highland bagpipe|year=1901 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bxsOAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA293-IA1|isbn=978-5-87701-213-4|page=293}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Celtic Monthly: A Magazine for Highlanders|url=https://archive.org/details/celticmonthly00unkngoog|year=1905|publisher=A. Sinclair}}</ref> It wore a tartan designed and hand-spun by the Chief Constable and played two concerts annually to raise funds. .<ref name=thb/> The chief constable's kilt was after the pattern of hodden-grey but with a purple stripe.

Govan was annexed into Glasgow along with [[Partick]] in 1912, and the band became the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-19168940 |title=How Glasgow annexed Govan and Partick 100 years ago |author=Reevel Alderson |work=BBC News |date=7 August 2012 |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref> In 1913 William Gray, a Gold Medal winner, replaced Hutcheon as pipe major, and the tartan was also replaced with the Royal Stewart.<ref name=early/> The band won its first [[World Pipe Band Championships|World Championship]] in 1920, but due to Gray's focus on events other than competition the next time the band won the Worlds was 1936.<ref name=early/>

Gray was succeeded in 1932 by John MacDonald, a student of Gray for many years and also a Gold Medal winner, having won at both the [[Argyllshire Gathering]] and the [[Northern Meeting]] within a week.<ref name=early/> Under MacDonald, the band won the World Championships in 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939, and after the Second World War in 1946, 1949 and 1951.<ref name=early/>

[[Angus MacDonald (piper)|Angus MacDonald]] succeeded John MacDonald in 1958, and rebuilt the band after the loss of senior players through retirement had reduced the band's competitiveness.<ref name=early/><ref name=am>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/angus-macdonald-1.230033 |title=Angus Macdonald |date=24 June 2000 |work=The Herald |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref> Under Angus MacDonald the band won every major championship except the Worlds.<ref name=am/>

Ronald Lawrie succeeded Angus MacDonald as pipe major in 1967, but due to ill health Lawrie was succeeded by [[Ian MacLellan]] in 1972.<ref name=early/> In 1975, [[Strathclyde Police]] was formed by the merger of several police forces to form the second-largest police force in Britain, and the respective bands were merged into the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band under the leadership of Ian MacLellan.<ref name=p1>{{cite web |url=http://pipingpress.com/famous-pipers-pm-ian-mclellan-bem-strathclyde-police/ |title=Famous Pipers – P/M Ian Mclellan BEM, Strathclyde Police |publisher=pipingpress.com |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref>

Under MacLellan and leading drummer Alex Connell the band won the World Championships in 1976 and 1979, being placed second to [[Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band|Dysart and Dundonald]] in 1977 and 1978.<ref name=p1/> Strathclyde Police then won every year from 1981 to 1986, and then four consecutive times from 1988 to 1991.<ref name=p1/> In 1987, the [[78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band]] from Canada became the first band based outside Scotland to win the title, and [[Simon Fraser University Pipe Band|Simon Fraser University]], also from Canada, came second, pushing Strathclyde Police into third place.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/how-sfu-bagpipers-won-the-world-championships---over-the-scots/article13049912/ |title=How SFU bagpipers won the world championships - over the Scots |author=Martha Lederman |work=The Globe and Mail |date=5 July 2013 |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=p1/> The run of six consecutive wins remains a record, as does the twenty total wins accumulated throughout the band's history.<ref name=early/>

MacLellan retired in 1992 and was succeeded by Harry McAleer, who led the band until 1996 when he was succeeded by Ian Plunkett.<ref name="early" /> Plunkett was succeeded by James Wark in 2001. Wark retired and was succeeded by Donald Mackay in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mackay new Strathclyde Police pipe-major |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Mackay-new-Strathclyde-Police-pipe-major/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=pipes{{!}}drums |language=en-US}}</ref> Under Mackay, the band enjoyed championship successes once again, winning the European Pipe Band Championships<ref>{{Cite web |title=Updated: Strathclyde Police win European Championship |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Updated-Strathclyde-Police-win-European-Championship/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=pipes{{!}}drums |language=en-US}}</ref> and Cowal Highland Gathering in 2006 and the Scottish Championships in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-01-31 |title=2007 Scottish Champions: Strathclyde Police |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/2007-Scottish-Champions-Strathclyde-Police/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=pipes{{!}}drums |language=en-US}}</ref> Mackay stood down in 2008 and was succeeded by Don Bradford. <ref name="early" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Update 2: Donald Mackay resigns as Strathclyde Police P-M |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/update-2-donald-mackay-resigns-as-strathclyde-police-p-m/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=pipes{{!}}drums |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:Strathclyde Police Pipe Band - at Pitlochry (2446634317).jpg|thumb|Pitlochry Highland Games 2007, led by Pipe Major Donald Mackay (far left)]]

In 2009, funding cuts and a restriction on the number of events the band could play at threatened the future of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/pipe-band-puts-strain-on-police-time-and-costs-1.922775 |title=Pipe band puts strain on police time and costs |date=28 September 2009 |author=Helen McArdle |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Update-2-Strathclyde-Police-force-to-pull-plug-on-competition-band-sources/ |title=Update 2: Strathclyde Police force to pull plug on competition band: sources |date=28 February 2009 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=over>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Strathclyde-Police-Pipe-Band-it-s-over/ |title=Strathclyde Police Pipe Band: "it's over" |date=31 October 2009 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Update-2-Strathclyde-P-M-resigns-end-of-band-likely/ |title=Update 2: Strathclyde P-M resigns; end of band "likely" |date=31 October 2009 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref> Bradford and pipe-sergeant Duncan Nicholson resigned in protest, but returned in January 2010 after a new funding agreement was reached.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Strathclyde-Police-officially-a-go-for-2010-Bradford-reinstated/ |title=Strathclyde Police officially a go for 2010; Bradford reinstated |date=31 January 2010 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref>

Duncan Nicholson succeeded Bradford as pipe major in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/duncan-nicholson-appointed-strathclyde-police-p-m-after-multiple-meetings/ |title=Duncan Nicholson appointed Strathclyde Police P-M after multiple meetings |date=30 November 2010 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref> In 2013, territorial police forces in Scotland were amalgamated to form [[Police Scotland]]. The structure of the band was unchanged however the band changed its name to Greater Glasgow Police Scotland Pipe Band.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21304122 |title=Strathclyde Police Pipe Band reaches the end of an era |work=BBC News |date=2 February 2013 |accessdate=1 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Strathclyde-Police-Pipe-Band-will-change-in-name-only/ |title=Strathclyde Police Pipe Band will change "in name only" |date=31 January 2013 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref> The band performed in the annual [[Pre-Worlds concert]] in 2014 with the name Ceolry. Nicholson was replaced as Pipe Major by Iain MacPherson. <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/glasgow-police-nicholson-steps-down-macpherson-now-p-m/ |title= Glasgow Police: Nicholson steps down; MacPherson now P-M |date=30 September 2015 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=22 May 2024}}</ref> In the following year, 2016, the band changed name again becoming the Glasgow Police Pipe Band and their leading drummer Eric Ward was replaced by David Henderson. <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/glasgow-police-to-start-rebuilding-with-henderson/ |title=Glasgow Police to start rebuilding with Henderson |date=29 September 2016 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=9 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/no-less-great-now-just-glasgow-police/ |title=No less great, now just Glasgow Police |date=6 October 2016 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=9 October 2016}}</ref>

In December 2019, Iain McPherson stepped down as Pipe Major. Alisdair McLaren briefly served as Pipe Major between December 2019 and January 2020 but resigned to return to his native Australia. Upon McLaren's departure, Duncan Nicholson, former pipe major, was appointed. <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/nicolson-returns-as-glasgow-police-pipe-major/ |title=Nicholson returns as Glasgow Police pipe-major |date=19 February 2020|publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=22 May 2024}}</ref> Later, the band announced Ewan Henderson would be appointed Pipe Major with immediate effect, succeeding Duncan Nicholson, who stepped in as interim Pipe Major. <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/another-p-m-change-for-glasgow-police-as-henderson-becomes-p-m/ |title=Another leadership change for Glasgow Police as Henderson becomes P-M |date=9 June 2020 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=22 May 2024}}</ref>

In 2021, the band announced it would cease competing as the Glasgow Police Pipe Band and begin to be known as Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band and change from their famous Royal Stewart tartan which the band wore for 108 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/glasgow-police-change-name-to-police-scotland-federation-pipe-band/ |title=Glasgow Police change name to Police Scotland Federation Pipe Band|date=1 July 2021 |publisher=pipesdrums.com |accessdate=22 May 2024}}</ref>

Over the band's history, it had won a total of 90 major championships, including 20 World Pipe Band Championships, 4 World Drum Corps Championships, 14 RSPBA Champion of Champions titles, 13 British Pipe Band Championships, 5 Scottish Pipe Band Championships, 11 European Pipe Band Championships, and 23 Cowal Highland Gathering Pipe Band Championships, with its most recent championship win in 2007.

==Evolution of Band Name== The band faced many name changes throughout its 138 year history due to boundary changes within the Police force.

* ''Burgh of Govan Police'' (1883 - 1912) - 29 years * ''City of Glasgow Police'' (1912 - 1975) - 63 years * ''Strathclyde Police'' (1975 - 2013) - 38 years * ''Greater Glasgow Police Scotland'' (2013 - 2015) - 2 years * ''Glasgow Police'' (2015 - 2021) - 6 years * ''Police Scotland & Federation'' (2021 - present)

==Pipe Majors== *''William Bremer (1883-1890)'' *''Walter Drysdale (1890-1898)'' *''Alexander Hutcheon (1898-1913)'' *''William Gray (1913-1932)'' *''John MacDonald (1932-1958)'' *''Angus MacDonald (1958-1966)'' *''Ronald Lawrie (1966-1972)'' *''Ian MacLellan BEM (1972-1992)'' *''Harry McAleer (1992-1997)'' *''Ian Plunkett (1997-2001)'' *''James Wark (2001-2004)'' *''Donald Mackay (2004-2008)'' *''Don Bradford (2008-2010)'' *''Duncan Nicholson (2010-2015)'' *''Iain MacPherson (2015-2019)'' *''Alisdair McLaren (2019)'' *''Duncan Nicholson (2020)'' *''Ewan Henderson (2020–2025)'' *''Duncan Nicholson (2025-present)''

==Leading Drummers== *''D/M Walker (1883 - approx. 1910)'' *''John Seton (approx. 1910-1927)'' *''Jack Seton (1927-1948)'' *''Alex McCormick (1948-1952)'' *''John Walley (1954-1961)'' *''Alex Connell (1961-1985)'' *''John Kirkwood Jr. (1985-1992)'' *''Roddy Darroch (1992-1995)'' *''Eric Ward (1995-2016)'' *''David Henderson (2016–2025)'' *''Blair Faulds (2025-present)''

==Discography== as '''[[City of Glasgow Police]] Pipe Band''' *''Selection of Strathspeys and Reels/Eightsome Reels'' - P/M J. MacDonald (Parlophone F.3355) *''6/8 Marches'' - P/M J. MacDonald ([[Parlophone]] F.3369) *''Marching With The Pipers'' - P/M A. MacDonald (1966) *''Scottish Pipe Band Music'' - P/M R. Lawrie (Olympic 6145) *''The Choice of Champions'' - P/M R. Lawrie (1968) *''Scotland's Best, Vol. 1'' - P/M R. Lawrie (1970) *''Scotland's Best, Vol. 3'' - P/M R. Lawrie (1971) *''Glasgow Police March Past'' (1972)

as '''Strathclyde Police Pipe Band'''

*''World Champions'' - P/M I. MacLellan (1980) *''Champion of Champions (Champions of the World)'' - P/M I. MacLellan (1983) *''Six in a Row (1981-1986)'' - P/M I. MacLellan (1986) *''Solo Pipers, Quartet and Mini Band'' (1991) *''Pipes, Drums & A Glasgow Girl'' (2006) - with Joann Gilmartin

as '''Greater Glasgow Police Scotland Pipe Band''' *''Ceolry: Live at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall'' (2015)

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category}} * [http://www.glasgowpolicepb.org/ Greater Glasgow Police Scotland Pipe Band] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809191928/http://www.glasgowpolicepb.org/ |date=2014-08-09 }}

[[Category:Musical groups established in 1883]] [[Category:Grade 1 pipe bands]] [[Category:Law enforcement in Scotland]] [[Category:World Pipe Band Championships winners]] [[Category:1883 establishments in Scotland]] [[Category:Scottish pipe bands]] [[Category:Police bands]]