THE World Piping Championships, always a big draw, take place on Glasgow Green today and tomorrow. Some eight thousand pipers and drummers from all over the world will be taking part. The defending world champions,Inveraray and District, will be seeking to retain the title.
Strathclyde Police Pipe Band has often been a real force in the championships. Today known as the Glasgow Police Pipe Band, it won the coveted title in 1976 and again in 1979. In 1981 it embarked on an impressive run, taking the accolade for six successive years until 1986. It added further world titles in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.
Following its triumph at Bellahouston Park in August 1984, the 25-member band paraded outside Strathclyde Police headquarters in Pitt Street and presented the trophy to chief constable Sir Patrick Hamill. He told them they were a credit not just to themselves but to the entire force.
Pipe Major Ian McLellan (left, pictured with Drum Sergeant Alex Connell, right) said: “We are delighted at maintaining the standard set over the past nine years, when we have won the world championship six times and have been runners-up on the three other occasions.
“This,” he added, “is despite a shortage of recruits. There is a great interest in piping throughout the world, but we have been having great difficulty finding people capable of being both policemen and Grade One bandsmen.”
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