Elgin Pipe Band drum up £15k towards new tartan
Elgin & District Pipe Band has raised £15,000 in its ongoing bid to celebrate its 50th anniversary in fitting style next year.
The band, which almost folded during the pandemic, has succeeded in attracting a raft of new members in recent weeks.
In addition it’s in process of designing a new tartan so that everyone will be dressed identically.
Lead drummer Scott Brander said: “We hope to register this design as an officially recognised tartan called Lantern of the North.
“The aim is to kit the band out fully in this new uniform. The tartan will reflect our local area and heritage and, of course, it will be there for local folk to adopt and wear as they wish.
A £5000 donation has been received the Elgin Common Good Fund.
In addition, a £10000 grant has been made to the band by the Westminster government’s UKSPF Arts and Culture fund.
Steve added: “These very generous grants bring us almost half way towards our goal and have immediately been put to work.
“But we’re still working hard to raise extra funds. With it taking £1000 to kit out each member, it’s a real challenge.”
One of the band’s younger pipers, Lili Sharman who’s aged 11, has taken it upon herself to raise some money.
Steve said: “Lili is climbing and walking the Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe with her pipes and playing a few tunes along the way. This is one that’s not for faint of heart.”
Having received permission to play in mixed kilts, the band performed last month at the British Championships in Forres.
They finished a very creditable fifth out of 20, their highest ever placing in a major competition.
This result was all the more impressive considering two-thirds of their number had never competed before.
Elgin & District Pipe Band meets every Wednesday evening at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Elgin High Street – from 6.30pm for beginners, 7.30pm for others.
Its numbers have swelled from 39 to 52 during the past two months, but new members are always welcome, regardless of playing experience.
Anyone wanting to get involved, help financially, or just find out more about the band, can get in touch via its Facebook page.
