School musicians pipe out season
LOCHABER Schools’ Pipe Band held its last street parade of the 2017 summer season last week after weeks of playing for visitors in the centre of Fort William.
Fortunately the streets remained dry on Thursday allowing the band to perform its usual wide range of traditional, lively sets.
The weather has been erratic all summer, with the band forced to call off four of its parades, but it still managed 15 nights of entertainment in the High Street.
The band was playing with a new set of Andante drums, partly funded by a grant from the Helen and SG MacGregor Bequest Fund.
Collections during these street parades are a vital source of income and enables the band to provide uniforms, instruments, free tuition and membership to youngsters from local primaries and Lochaber High School.
The final night was also the band’s opportunity to bid farewell to departing members.
Ewan McGregor, a piper for three years, is leaving the area to join the army, and Emilli Donoghue, a bass and tenor drummer for six years, is starting a college course in early education and childcare.
They both received a photographic memento and certificate from Lochaber High School head teacher Jim Sutherland.
Also recognised was snare drummer Rachel Fraser, who was presented with a shield for dress and bearing.
The band is currently having a short break from performances and rehearsals but will be back together for the Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday September 24.