A Trip Down Memory Lane

As it's always fun to surf YouTube for various videos, I managed to stumble across this oldie but a goodie: Toronto Police Pipe Band at the Alma Highland Games in 2001.

This was the year that James P. and I joined the band...Jamie as a piper and myself as a tenor drummer to fulfill the life long dream of playing in the MIDDLE of the circle! Needless to say, it only lasted a season but this contest was particularly memorable. The first contest of the season actually and the band was lacking a bass drummer. Dave Fenton, a drummer in the snare line (now with the 78th Frasers) jumped in and WOW! Being a great drummer plus an accomplished bass guitar player, he had a lot to contribute. The music, lift and passion that came out of that fella that day was spectacular.

Enjoy!

-JLT

The Art of Reed Manipulation

Parade to Mossfield

Can you spot James P.?

-JLT

Bits and Bobs

This last week has been a flurry of contests overseas so we've been receiving phone calls on a regular basis for various updates.

Here are a quick recap of the last week's events.

Cowal Highland Gathering:

B Grade Piobaireachd

1 - Alasdair Henderson

2- Tom Glover

3- James P. Troy

4- Keith Bowes

B Grade March

1- Alasdair Henderson

2- Alastair Lee

3- James P. Troy

4- Greig Canning

B Grade Strathspey and Reel

1- James P. Troy

2- Alasdair Henderson

3- Keith Bowes

3- Alastair Lee

Good showing for the Canadians! Check out www.pipesdrums.com for the results from Birnam where James P. came away with a 5th in the March and 2nd in the S&R. Another good showing from the Canadians (and of course, Jori Chisholm!) at that contest as well!

Inverness was the last competition on the agenda. A big congrats goes out to our friend, Glenn Brown for snagging the Gold Medal. Other kudos go to Iain Speirs and Willie MacCallum, fellow Spirit of Scotland-ers!

Day Two at Inverness saw the big win go to Stuart Liddell who has been having a fine season not only with his solo piping but with his band, Inveraray and District who ultimately took home the Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championships. Take a listen to both Glenn and Stuart's Piobaireachd performances on BBC Radio Scotland's Pipeline.

Alasdair Henderson was dominate in the B Grade while James P. came away with a 5th in the Strathspey and Reel. A big pat on the back goes to all of the competitors as it is a very intense couple of weeks, jam packed with all sorts of opportunities to play, compete and socialize!

James P. made out great at the end of the day and we are all very proud of him. Glad to have him home....just in time for a quick barbeque and then I'm off for two weeks in Toronto! My old home.

-JLT