Memories call for 130 year-old Perth and District Pipe Band

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Perth and District Pipe Band is in fine spirits as the organisation celebrates 130 years.A dinner at the Huntingtower Hotel will be held in November to mark the anniversary and a civic reception with Perth and Kinross Council is due to happen during the year.In September, the pipe band will have a ceilidh and prizegiving.Perth and District Pipe Band (PDPB) is in the mood to go down memory lane and so they are appealing for former members to get in touch and share photographs and stories.Former pipers and drummers from the band live as far afield as Australia and Canada and many continue the music despite the distance from their roots in Perth.Perth Pipe Band secretary Alison Duthie said: “We are so excited to be celebrating 130 years of the band.“As part of the plan to mark this milestone we ask that people share stories and old photos on our Facebook page.”Pipe Major Alistair Duthie was 20 years with The Black Watch before making an entry to the Perth Pipe Band in 2009.Wife Alison and daughter Eilidh are tenor drummers in the band, while sister Katie is a piper in Grade 1 Police Scotland Fife Pipe Band, so the Duthie family are at the heart of today’s PDPB.Alistair said: “There are several other piping families where virtually all members are involved with the band in some way.

Off the top of my head I think of the Janettas, the Dingwalls and the Sinclairs.“The Perth and District Pipe Band was named in 1893.“It all began at Peter MacDonald’s Perth chemist shop, Strangs.

Pipe Major Peter MacDonald was also PM of the 4th Volunteer Battalion Royal Highlanders. Unfortunately very little is held on this chapter in the band’s history.“We have a ceremonial mace dating from 1899.