In 2003 Stuart Liddell got a job teaching chanter and pipes in the local schools. He always had a vision that Inveraray would have a pipe band again – after an absence of almost 70 years.
Inveraray Pipe Band 1930s
Lord Archibald Campbell, who died in 1913, was the second son of the 8th Duke of Argyll and a great piping enthusiast. He raised and paid for the first Inveraray Pipe Band who played at the great Glasgow Exhibition of 1901.
The band survived until the late 1930s and it’s members included famous Inveraray names such as MacPhedran, MacIntyre, Maitland, Ross and Stewart.
In September 2003, the Inveraray Piping Project was formed with a view to teach and encourage children to play the pipes. In November 2003 Stuart played at the town’s Remembrance Day parade and he was joined by 3 of his new pupils who played with him at the church door – Laura McMillan, Jennifer Bell and Tracey Stark. Laura had only got her new pipes the night before!
With the help of Inveraray Primary School and especially the janitor, Tom Paterson, Tuesdays in the school became weekly piping practice and the group started to grow. Stuart was joined by Dougie Campbell from Dunoon (a good solo piper and Grade 1 band player) to assist with the teaching. By May 2004 there were 5 pipers (Laura, Tracey & Jennifer from Inveraray had been joined by Alastair Dempster and Laura Underwood from Dalmally). There was also one drummer, Graeme McMillan from Inveraray who was learning drumming at Oban Pipe Band with Brian Graham and Angus MacPherson. Towards the end of 2003 another 2 pipers, Rosie and Christie Addis-Turner (brother and sister from Ardrishaig) joined the group.
Having played at a few wee concerts and practices in on the town’s front green, the band’s first “official” engagement was the parade through the town on Remembrance Day 2004.
The band proper was formed in 2005 when it registered with the RSPBA (Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association) that summer and it’s first competition in Novice Juvenile was Cowal Games in August 2005. The kids were all in different kilts - some had their own - others were hired.
Inveraray & District Pipe Band - Cowal 2005
The pipers all had their own pipes but the band had to beg, steal and borrow drums! They had a couple of old drums and Oban Pipe Band lent us some. On the day of the Cowal Games, Garry Smyth, one of our drumming instructors went up to the Annsborough (Northern Irish) band half an hour before we were due to go on and borrowed their set - so the drummers all had the same drums for the competition. They came 13th out of 19.
That winter the band did a lot of fund-raising and got their own uniforms and drums (with assistance of grants from the Lottery, AIE, Scottish Community Trust etc). In 2006 the band were placed in the top 6 in every competition we entered. In the majors that was 5th in the Scottish, 5th in the European, 6th in the Worlds and 3rd at Cowal.
In 2007, the band won 4 of the 5 majors and were crowned Champion of Champions. The band were also the main band at their own Inveraray Highland Games in July and were asked to guest at the recent Connect Music Festival at Inveraray Castle.
After such a successful 2007 season in Novice Juvenile the band were upgraded to Juvenile where they won 4 of the 5 Major Championships along with a few prizes in grade 2 throughout the ‘08 season. Finishing the season with a World Championship title (also best drums) and the Cowal championship they secured the Champion of Champion’s in the Juvenile for 2008.
The RSPBA upgraded the band to grade two in October 2008 and are looking forward to competing again in 2009 under P/M Stuart Liddell and L/D Steven McWhirter
