World Champions

Our Competition Pipe Band had a spectacular season during 2022, culminating in being crowned World Pipe Band Champions in their grade in Glasgow on 13 August.

The band was founded in 2017 shortly after the arrival of Pipe Major David Wilton and Drum Sergeant Steven Graham to the Music Department. It started competing in Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) championships and competitions in 2018. As a new band, it was placed in the Novice Juvenile B grade, the entry grade for bands with all players under 19 save the Pipe Major. By the 2019 season we had reached eighth place in the World Pipe Band Championships and it became clear that the relatively young band would be able to build upon this.

After two years with no competition we started 2022 with a bang, gaining our first ever win: at the Gourock Highland Games in early May. This gave the pupils belief and they launched into a season of victories. The next week they returned to Gourock for the British Championships, and won. Four weeks later the Band competed at the Benarty Competition at Lochore Meadows, winning its own grade and placing second in the Novice Juvenile A grade (bands can also compete one grade higher than their own at smaller competitions). At the end of June, the band then won the European Pipe Band Championships, with the band’s drummers separately receiving the prize for Best Drum Corps.

After a well-earned rest in July, the band placed second at the Scottish Championships, and the pupils continued to work hard through the early part of August, with the aim to be crowned world champions. They not only succeeded, but also the Drum Corps were crowned the Champion of Champions for the season.

As a result of the pupils’ hard work and success under the sure hands of Mr Wilton, Mr Graham, and our Piping Instructor Mr James Semple, the Competition Pipe Band has now been promoted to the Novice Juvenile A grade for the 2023 season. This has allowed us to start a second competing band, the Development Pipe Band, which will be entered to compete in the Novice Juvenile B grade.

In tribute to the fallen, including all those from the High School community who have died in armed conflicts past and present, the School’s Combined Cadet Force and Pipe Band completed a parade in front of the school.

The event, which was watched by pupils, staff, parents, members of the public and guests, was led by CCF Contingent Commander Major Graham Rodger, with Rector Lise Hudson giving a reading from a poem by Sue Gilmurray: Teach Me the Way of Peace

A wreath was placed on the School’s War Memorial by Heads of School, Ollie Hall and Jan van der Kuyl, assisted by Junior Years pupils Daniel Stewart and Catherine Lauchlan.

In a moment in the proceedings that is always particularly poignant, Flowers o’ the Forest was played by Pupil Pipe Major Alastair Leonard, before a two-minute silence was observed.

To allow those who couldn’t be present to be part of the occasion, the parade was also streamed live on social media.

Rector Lise Hudson said, “Our annual Remembrance Parade is always a very moving occasion, allowing us to pause, remember and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in all conflicts. Bringing people together to reflect on the sacrifices made in past and current conflicts, Remembrance provides a salutary reminder of the importance of working for peace.”

During Remembrance week poppies were sold to raise money for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, with a sale of doughnuts after the Parade raising further funds for the charity.