Piping Appeals to All Generations
Written by admin on June 21, 2012
Final preparations are being made to welcome 3000 pipers and an estimated 4500 spectators to the 2012 British Pipe Band Championships in Annan. The event takes place on Saturday 30 June at Annan Academy.
The Championships continue to have broad appeal and the skills and musicianship of piping remains as relevant today, to all generations, as it always has been.
Competing in the Championships with the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band will be grand-father and grand-daughter Murray Dunbar and Logan Douglas.
Logan attends Newington Primary School in the town, which is renowned for its support of traditional Scottish music. Head Teacher Irvine Torbett also plays in the Royal Burgh Band and said,
“It’s been great to have been part of the British Pipe Band Championships in my home town for the past three years. The Championships have been well supported by local people and I am hoping we can do them proud and get among the prizes this year. Band practice is going well and the junior and senior bands are ready for the day.”
Councillor Ian Carruthers, Chair of the planning group said, “This event has helped profile Annan and should provide a major boost to local businesses. The championships themselves are a wonderful spectacle, full of very impressive performances, and I would urge as many people who are free on Saturday the 30 June to come along and enjoy a great day out. The Council is pulling out all the stops to prepare for a wonderful feast of piping.”
John Alexander, Project Director with ScotishPower Renewables and the Event Chieftain said, “ScottishPower Renewables is committed to supporting the communities local to our windfarms and is delighted to be headline sponsor of this spectacular event for its final year in Annan. It’s going to be a fantastic day and I’m really looking forward to seeing and hearing all the competitors perform”
2012 will be the final year that that event takes place in Annan, under the current contract the Council has with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, with the British Championships moving to Bathgate for the period 2013-2015.
The Council has kept ticket prices at 2011 levels. Visitors who purchase tickets in advance can make significant savings compared to Gate prices. Go to www.annanchampionships.co.uk for full details.
