Stromness RBL Pipe Band

Stromness RBL Pipe Band


Celebrating their thirtieth year, the Stromness Royal British Legion Pipe Band was formed in 1980 by the late Bill Baillie. The membership initially came from the workforce of the Flotta oil terminal, and so the band took its original name from the then operators – Occidental. After a brief period as the Claymore Pipe Band (after an oilfield), the band extended its membership beyond Flotta and obtained sponsorship from the Stromness branch of the Royal British Legion in 1985.

Since becoming a Legion band the band have had the opportunity to display their talents on a national scale, having been invited to perform on the Scottish mainland several times. High-profile slots for the band have included Beating Retreat, on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee March on Princes Street, Edinburgh, and a Royal Parade at Holyrood Palace. More recently the band has performed at the granting of the Freedom of the City of Perth to the Royal British Legion Scotland and D-Day Commemorations. The band wears the Sinclair of Ulbster tartan (by permission of the Earl of Caithness) with black tunics.

During 2009, the band had the privilege of playing at several unique events; the unveiling of Hoy memorial to the seamen of the Russian Convoys, the visit to Orkney of Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and the launch of the Oyster tidal energy device by Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond.

To date the band boasts the RBL Senior National Champion solo drummer (Clifford Seatter), twice RBL best overall band piper (Mark Weir), RSPBA North Scotland champion piper (Mark Wemyss), RSPBA North Scotland Grade 4 mini band champions and Grade 4 best drum corp.

more @ www.stromnesspipeband.co.uk