Torphichen and bathgate pipe band

#REDIRECT Torphichen and Bathgate Pipe Band
Overview
Torphichen and Bathgate Pipe Band are based in West Lothian, Scotland and compete at the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association's highest level of competition, Grade 1.
Established in 1902, the band is one of the oldest civilian pipe bands still in operation today and has had many illustrious years of competitive success whilst serving its local community dutifully. Torphichen and Bathgate has an impressive alumni of past players, and a talented crop in the current band drawn from all over Scotland.
Band practices take place at Armadale Academy on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7.30pm - 10.00pm. 2011 saw the re-generation of the Novice Juvenile programme, with young learners practising alongside the adult band every Thursday.
Torphichen & Bathgate are currently under the leadership of Pipe Major Stuart Shedden and Leading Drummer Callum Firth.
History
The Origin
From its formation in 1902 the band was originally known as the ‘Torphichen Pipe Band'. The band was on hand to lead the very first parade for the inaugural Torphichen Gala Day in 1908. Through its connections to the village of Torphichen, the band is affiliated to the order of the Knights of St John. Throughout the band’s history it has proudly carried the emblem of the Maltese cross on its official band ties and Bass drum, together with specially designed Pipe Major & Pipe Sergeant Drone banners. With a healthy and active membership, the band was able to flourish through both World Wars.
The Progression - The 60's, 70's and 80's
Over the early years the band initially wore the Green Hunting Stewart tartan but this was followed in the late 1960's with a change to the Bruce tartan. This owed to a historical connection in Bathgate, with Robert the Bruce's daughter, Princess Margaret, having lived in the town’s castle. Since its inception, the Band has nurtured some wonderful pipers such as iconic P/M Donald Shaw Ramsay (who was born in Torphichen Village in 1919), Bob Martin (who went on to establish the famous Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band, Roderick McCourt (of Wolfstone) and , Gordon Webster. During the 1970's the band formed a Novice Juvenile band which was the starting point for a whole new generation of talent. Current Scottish Power Pipe Major and 2003 Gold Medallist, Chris Armstrong, also first learned his craft through the Juvenile program.
The band, through Pipe Major Alex Samuel, was instrumental in starting the Bathgate Highland Games in 1973, and still has a large involvement to this day.As the band progressed through the late 1970's into 1980, silverware was becoming very familiar to both the Grade 2 band and Novice Juvenile band. After the untimely death of influential Pipe Major Alex Samuel, the Grade 2 band sadly spent the next few years changing Pipe Majors on a frequent basis. Initially the band was led by Alex’s brother Neil Samuel until 1981 when Pipe Major David Barnes took over. David stayed for two seasons and brought success immediately, by taking the band to the Grade 2 Champion of Champions title and winning the Cowal Championship in his first season.
After David Barnes’ departure, the Grade 2 band came under the leadership of Pipe Major Jimmy Drummond and Leading Drummer Billy Stirling, with the Novice band led by Pipe Major Robert Drummond and Leading Drummer Sandra Lamont. This leadership only lasted a small period of time before the band would retire into another period of hibernation, where it remained until 1986.
Late 80's and Early 90's - Championship Success and Promotion
1986 saw another change in uniform, with the red of the Bruce tartan giving way to the distinctive light blue of the Modern Skye. The change of image sparked a new era of success under Pipe Major Mark Bennett and Leading Drummer Billy Stirling, culminating in the capture of the Grade 2 World Championship in 1989.
The 1989 season stands out as a remarkable year for Torphichen and Bathgate. The band astonishingly won every championship in Grade 2 (a feat only repeated twice in history by Lothian & Borders Police in 2000 and by Inveraray & District in 2009) and thus gained promotion to Grade 1 for season 1990. However, after the great achievements of the band in Grade 2, the step up to Grade 1 proved difficult and unfortunately the first adventure in the premier grade was to be all too brief.
Back in the familiar territory of Grade 2, the Pipe Major role was now filled by Gordon Stafford with incumbent Billy Stirling leading the drum corps. The years that followed saw the rebirth of Torphichen & Bathgate as a major force to be reckoned with. Regular placings and championship victories culminated in the band once again earning promotion back to the heights of Grade 1 by the end of 1994.
By 1996 the band sadly retreated into hibernation as the stress of Grade 1 took its toll again. Pipe Major Mark Bennett then returned to the band and it re-emerged with a much younger look. This lasted a few years but failed to recreate the level of success as had come before. The band eventually did not appear on the competition circuit for a couple of years after the turn of the millennium.
The 2000's - Return to the Fold
After a few quiet years it was in late 2003, amidst other local developments, when the band’s long- serving Chairman, George Purves, attempted to resurrect the Torphichen & Bathgate Pipe Band. Gordon Stafford once again emerged as Pipe Major for his second stint at the helm, and he set about building a band with a combination of some old faces from the past rejoining alongside some exciting new blood. Callum Firth and his young drum corps came aboard from the ashes of the wound-down Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Grade 2 band and so Gordon, Callum and their new-look band embarked upon the challenge of reaching its competitive peak once again.
The first season back in action was rewarded with a host of prizes throughout 2004 and the band began to steadily climb its way into contention at the major championships.Year 2005 was an exciting one and the band arrived on form. The drum corps won the Best Drum Corps award at the Scottish Championships - which was appropriately enough to win possession of ‘The George Purves Trophy!’ - on their way to the 2005 Drumming Champions of Champions title. The band’s growing reputation was cemented by storming to victory at the British Championships in Tain. With high hopes at The World’s, the band narrowly missed out on the world title by just a single point to Ian Duncan’s Drambuie Kirkliston. The year ended with the band preparing an audacious concert held at the Magnum Centre in Irvine in November. With a rich repertoire and a plethora of new compositions, primarily composed from the pens of P/S Stuart Robertson and Chris Djuritschek, the band announced its determined intention towards reaching Grade 1, in front of a sell-out audience. A live recording of the concert resulted in the release of the band’s very first C.D the following year - ‘The Curse of Uluru’, produced by Murray Blair.
After a busy winter and growing expectations for the 2006 season, the band was denied victory at the opening championship in Dumbarton. But Gordon Stafford and his band battled on strongly to collect another impressive trophy haul: gaining places in every championship and running Tayside Police close throughout the season. Callum Firth’s drum corps put in a stellar performance to win the World Championship title for Best Drum Corps. There were warm scenes at the Cowal Highland Games as Torphichen and Tayside amicably congratulated each other on the field after the results which brought the curtain down on a closely contested season. The 2007 season began with a solid 2nd Place at the Scottish Championships as victory just eluded the band once more. The drum corps showed its class by winning the Scottish and European title but just lost out in the end to Adrian Hoy’s Cullybackey corps for the World and Champions of Champions titles. The band had by now established itself as the best Scottish band in grade 2 and made a final push over the winter to achieve its dream of grade 1 status once again.
From the outset of 2008 things looked promising as the band claimed 1st place at the Scottish Championships. Travelling southward to Birmingham the band secured the double with the British title for both band and drum corps. It was a memorable night, featuring an impromptu victory parade around the hotel grounds for bemused guests to kick off an unforgettable party that continued all the way back up the M6 on the Sunday. Now full of confidence travelling to Lisburn, Northern Ireland for the Europeans, the band came away with a valiant second place to maintain the lead for the Champion of Champions title. Hopeful of delivering the coveted World Championship, the band could not halt the brilliant Bagad Cap Caval in the medley contest. However, there were celebrations for the drum corps, who secured their 2nd world title in 3 years. The band were preparing to head to the final Championship of the season with it all to play for at the top of the table but, in typically Torphichen-esque fashion, the season could not pass without some drama. Just days after leading his corps to the World Championship, Leading drummer Callum Firth broke a finger in a work accident leaving his wife, Julie, to take the corps on to the Cowal Championships. With the Champion of Champions title at stake, Callum could not be kept away from the circle, and he was able to take to the field and play in the bass section on tenor! Great performances from both ends meant the band led the parade from the field as Cowal Champions - closing out both Champion of Champions titles for 2008. The band’s ambition had been met and Torphichen were elevated to the heights of Grade 1 for a third time.
The Present Era
Sadly the glory of 2008 was followed by a tumultuous season in 2009. The Torphichen Pipe Major curse was to strike again and, after several merry years of good cheer and good results, Gordon Stafford parted company with the band after the World Championships in 2009. Though the majority of personnel stayed with the band, the search was on to find a new Pipe Major for 2010 and beyond.
After an intensive search and interview process, the band duly appointed 1998 Gold Medallist Stuart Shedden as the new Pipe Major at the 2009 AGM. Stuart brought a wealth of piping experience with him having been a successful junior and senior competitor on the solo piping circuit. A few youthful faces were merged into the band and optimism was high for 2010. Stuart’s first outing was at the inaugural Lomond and Clyde Invitational contest in March. When the outdoor season began, the band took 1st place at the Dunbar Highland Games ahead of Lothian and Borders Police. As the season progressed, the general standard of Grade 1 was widely regarded to be at the highest level ever and the band struggled to make a significant breakthrough at major championships, with some members departing come the season’s end.
Therefore, the 2011 season was seen as a rebuilding year, though strong showings at the British Championships at Annan and Cowal helped rejuvenate the band. With the sense of rebuilding during the year, drummer Julie Firth set out to fulfil one of her ambitions to give something back to the hobby she has enjoyed and pushed for the re-foundation of the Torphichen and Bathgate Novice Juvenile pipe band. Many youngsters are now learning the trade every Thursday and with some fantastic support from parents, players and followers, the novice band is on the brink of making its first appearance in the near future. For the 2012 season the Torphichen image changed again, the ‘Skye’ theme was maintained with the blue of the Modern Skye retired in favour of the popular Isle of Skye tartan. An expanded band again held its own against the 16 domestic bands in the Grade One Arena and there were some encouraging results, such as at North Berwick where the band took 3rd place in the Medley Competition.

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