KSPB tune up for a busy season

THE PIPING season is marching on and during the winter Kintyre Schools Pipe Bands (KSPB) have been busily practising for forthcoming competitions.

This season brings several changes to both bands.

The Novice Juvenile B band is made up almost entirely of new band members who have moved up from the beginners’ band.

They have a new pipe major, local Fiona Mitchell, who has been involved with KSPB for many years.

Most of last season’s Novice/Juvenile Band have moved to become part of the 3A band and have a new pipe major, Julie Blue, whose family has been heavily involved with KSPB since it started.

The bands also find themselves with a new tenor drum tutor, Lewis Thorpe, who took over from Tommy Blue at the end of last season.

A KSPB spokesperson said: ‘With all this ‘new blood’, it is with great enthusiasm that both bands prepare themselves for the busy season ahead.’

The bands will be competing at the Scottish championships, the British championships and Cowal games, with the 3A Band also competing at the world championships in Glasgow, in the middle of August.

Events

There will also be events closer to home: the Campbeltown Highland games due to be held in the middle of May, the MOK Run in May, the Southend Highland games in July and the Kintyre Agricultural Society show at the beginning of August.

The bands are planning several street performances in the coming months.

The first will be on Saturday April 15, Easter weekend, from 7.30pm till 8pm in Main Street, Campbeltown.

The spokesperson added: ‘Hopefully, friends, family and visitors will support the bands at the start of what is sure to be a very busy season.’