Council pipe up to sing the praises of band

Councillors unanimously praised North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Band for their participation in the Tartan Week celebrations in New York.

A total of 48 young musicians, aged from 11 to 18, travelled to the Big Apple in April.

While there, they took part in the Tartan Day Parade on Sixth Avenue, which was marshalled by Sir Billy Connolly, attracted 30,000 spectators and was televised worldwide.

Online footage of them performing Scotland the Brave and Rowan Tree in Grand Central Station also went viral, being seen by millions worldwide.

The band also has an impressive track record in competition and recently won the British Championships.

All of this was mentioned in a motion proposed by education convener Frank Mcnally at a meeting of the full council in Motherwell on Thursday, June 20.

Councillor Mcnally accompanied the band on their trip to New York at his own expense, as did Provost Jean Jones who chaired the full council meeting.

Seconding the motion was councillor Catherine Johnston, who also saw the band as she was also visiting the United States at the time of the events.

Part of the motion states: “The young people did North Lanarkshire proud in the Big Apple and continued their successful start to the playing season by winning at the recent British Championships.

“The council thanks them for their hard work and wishes them all the very best in their future endeavours.”

The council also thanked all of those who helped make this year’s trip to New York a great success, particularly the head of music instruction Jim Park, pipe majors Ross Cowan and Darren Somerville, drum major Steven Nelson, all the tutors and instructors, as well as the various volunteers, sponsors, parents, supporters and school-based staff for their unwavering support.

The motion was passed unanimously by all councillors, who also shared in a round of applause at the youngsters’ achievement.