On Thursday, June 27, pipers,
drummers, parents, pipe band managers, and instructors from past and current
years at Lathallan School came together for a celebration of the Lathallan
School Pipe Band, established in 1964.
The event featured an afternoon
workshop where everyone – current pupils and alumni - brushed up on their
drumming skills and learned two new 3/4's celebratory tunes composed by piping
instructor Mr John Nevans as a tribute to PM Harry Stott and Mr Jock Clarke,
founding members of the Lathallan School Pipe Band.
A visit to the graveyard in
Johnshaven to honour PM Harry Stott was a particularly poignant moment of the
day. S6 pupil Ruaridh, the current Pipe Major of the band, played Stott's
bagpipes during their visit to his graveside.
“The pipes were given to Mr Stott after he gallantly stepped up to play the pipes for the soldiers in the Battle of Loos, during the First World War,” said current Lathallan School Piping Instructor, Mr John Nevan.
“Today in Johnshaven, we celebrate Stott’s work in creating this school band. I’ve been honoured to say that I’ve had the care of the band for 18 years which has been a privilege,” he added.
The band performed in Johnshaven, greeted by crowds lining the street. They performed at the Harbour, in front of Johnshaven Heritage Centre which currently has an exhibition about Stott’s story.
In the evening, back at Lathallan, there was food, entertainment, and ceilidh dancing.
The event also marked the retirement of the current Piping Instructor Mr Nevans.