Pipe Band
George Watson's College Pipes and Drums have three bands of varying ability under the leadership of Pipe Majors Iain Simpson and Ross Harvey, and Drum Majors Mick O'Neill and Jim Clark. They are assisted by two part-time teachers. There are currently over 200 children being taught either piping or drumming at Watson's.
Competing all over the UK at Juvenile and Novice Juvenile level, the Pipes and Drums are now one of the most successful teaching establishments in the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. Our Juvenile band and Drum corps are the current World Champions. The band also won the World Championships in 2002, 2007 and 2009. Our Novice band won the World Championships in 2009. Both bands have won the Scottish, British, European and Cowal on numerous occasions.
The Pipes and Drums perform mainly at school functions however are in huge demand to play at other events including The Great Scottish Walk, Concerts and other Corporate Events. The bands have performed for the Royal Family on many occasions including the world famous Braemar Gathering where they were presented with the trophy for best band by Her Majesty The Queen. They have also travelled to various countries, performing in Canada, Japan, Belgium and Russia where they were extremely well received.
Competition Highlights
In recent years the bands have had tremendous success in the competition arena. Some of the highlights are as follows:
Juvenile Grade |
|
|---|---|
| Scottish Champions | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 |
| British Champions | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011 |
| European Champions | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011 |
| Cowal Champions | 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011 |
| World Champions | 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011 |
| Champion of Champions | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011 |
| Juvenile Drum Corps | |
| Scottish Champions | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| British Champions | 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 |
| European Champions | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 |
| Cowal Champions | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| World Champions | 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011 |
| Champion of Champions | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Novice Juvenile Grade | |
| Scottish Champions | 1992, 2000, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| British Champions | 1992, 2000, 2004, 2009 |
| European Champions | 2000, 2004 |
| Cowal Champions | 2005, 2009, 2011 |
| World Champions | 2009 |
| Champion of Champions | 2000, 2009 |
| Novice Juvenile Drum Corps | |
| Scottish Champions | 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| British Champions | 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011 |
| European Champions | 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 |
| Cowal Champions | 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| World Champions | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Champion of Champions | 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Competition Results
| Competitions 2011 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Playing in Senior Band Competition ** Playing in Grade 2 *** Playing in Grade 3 |
JUVENILE
|
NOVICE
|
||||
|
Band
|
Drums
|
Band
|
Drums
|
|||
| 6 Mar | George Watson's College | Invitational Competition Detailed results in Parents' Section |
2nd | 1st | 1st | 2nd |
| 11 Mar | Glasgow Highland Club | Scottish Schools Competition Detailed results in Parents' Section |
2nd | 2nd | 3rd* | 3rd* |
| 26 Mar | Peebles High School | Lothian and Borders Mini Band Competition | ||||
| 14 May | Dunbar | Dunbar Highland Games | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st |
| 21 May | Dumbarton | Scottish Championships | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 28 May | Bathgate | Bathgate Highland Games | 1st 1st** |
1st 2nd** |
1st | 1st |
| 18 June | Innerleithen | Innerleithen Highland Games | 1st 2nd** |
2nd 1st** |
1st | 1st |
| 25 June | Annan | British Championships | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st |
| 30 July | Belfast | European Championships | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 2nd |
| 6 Aug | North Berwick | Branch Championships | 1st 2nd** |
1st 1st** |
1st | 3rd |
| 7 Aug | Bridge of Allan | Highland Games | 3rd*** | 2nd*** | ||
| 13 Aug | Glasgow | World Championships | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 20 Aug | Melrose | Highland Games | 1st 2nd* |
1st 1st** |
1st | 1st |
| 27 Aug | Dunoon | Cowal Championships | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd |
| 11 Sep | Peebles | Highland Games | 1st*** 1st** |
1st*** 1st** |
2nd | 2nd |
| RSPBA | Champion of Champions | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | |
| Lothian and Borders | Champion of Champions | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | |
| 8 Oct | Dumbarton | Solo Drumming Competition | ||||
| 22 Oct | Glasgow | World Solo Drumming | ||||
| 13 Nov | George Watson''s College | Internal Solo Piping & Drumming Competition | ||||
| 19 Nov | Piping Centre, Glasgow | Solo Piping Competition | ||||
| 3 Dec | Craigmount High School | Solo Piping and Drumming Competition | ||||
History
It is said that in 1882, a group of boys at George Watson's College who played bagpipes, met on a regular basis to play together. If this is correct, it would make George Watson's College Pipes and Drums "The Oldest Civilian Pipe Band" in Scotland.
In 1985 the School took steps to reestablish the band. Funds were raised for instruments and uniforms and before long the band was kitted out and playing. The Pipes and Drums were fortunate to have the assistance of a number of people who were the driving force behind the band's revival. They included the then Deputy Headmaster Angus McDonald and teachers at the School Mr Norman Bruce and Mr Les Howie.
Mr Howie was appointed Master in Charge of the Pipes and Drums and in due course a parents' committee was formed to help with fund raising and development. With Mr Howie's help the band saw considerable success until work commitments forced him to step down in 1993, upon which the parent committee took over his responsibilities. The parents' committee worked tirelessly during the next seven years to raise the profile of the band within the school environment and also within the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
In Autumn 2000 the school appointed Pipe Major Iain Simpson and Drum Major Michael O'Neill as full time members of staff and joint Masters in Charge of the Pipes and Drums. Since then the organisation has been developed and there are now three bands which compete very successfully in the Juvenile and Novice Juvenile grades.