Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band
Encyclopedia
The Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band has been a force in pipe band
competition, becoming a contender in major grade one competitions since it was promoted to that level in 1980. The band was founded in 1972. Throughout its competitive history, the band has never won the World Pipe Band Championships
, though it has been runner up three times.
decided that they would try to form a pipe band. An advertisement was put in the local newspaper for young people wanting to learn the pipes or drums, and a group of primarily young players began practicing at a Bathgate
school. As with many youth bands, numerous adults and committee members from the community were necessary to keep the band running during its early years.
The band rose quickly through the lower grades and a Novice grade band was created in 1977 to handle additional youth who were joining the band. By 1978, the original band had won the Champion of Champions title in Grade Two while the Novice band was upgraded to Juvenile. Both bands were extremely young.
The senior band was promoted to Grade 1 in 1980, and throughout the subsequent decade its drum corps won every single major drumming prize. The band as a whole proceeded to win the Scottish, British and European Championships during that decade. While continuing to win major prizes to this day, the band is striving to win a World Championship title. In 2006, the band placed 5th in the final World Championship tables, the highest of any band that has never actually won. In 2010, the Grade 1 band achieved 2nd in both the Scottish and the British Pipe Band Championships.
A prolific teaching oraganisation, Boghall and Bathgate still run the Juvenile and Novice Juvenile Pipe Bands to encourage young people in the local area to take up Piping and Drumming. In 2009, the Juvenile band were both European and British champions. The Juvenile drum corps also captured the World Champions title.
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
competition, becoming a contender in major grade one competitions since it was promoted to that level in 1980. The band was founded in 1972. Throughout its competitive history, the band has never won the World Pipe Band Championships
World Pipe Band Championships
The World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition currently held in Glasgow, Scotland every August. The event has been operating regularly since 1930, when the Scottish Pipe Band Association was formed...
, though it has been runner up three times.
History
In 1972, a few townspeople of Boghall, West LothianWest Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
decided that they would try to form a pipe band. An advertisement was put in the local newspaper for young people wanting to learn the pipes or drums, and a group of primarily young players began practicing at a Bathgate
Bathgate
Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston, and Linlithgow. Edinburgh Airport is away...
school. As with many youth bands, numerous adults and committee members from the community were necessary to keep the band running during its early years.
The band rose quickly through the lower grades and a Novice grade band was created in 1977 to handle additional youth who were joining the band. By 1978, the original band had won the Champion of Champions title in Grade Two while the Novice band was upgraded to Juvenile. Both bands were extremely young.
The senior band was promoted to Grade 1 in 1980, and throughout the subsequent decade its drum corps won every single major drumming prize. The band as a whole proceeded to win the Scottish, British and European Championships during that decade. While continuing to win major prizes to this day, the band is striving to win a World Championship title. In 2006, the band placed 5th in the final World Championship tables, the highest of any band that has never actually won. In 2010, the Grade 1 band achieved 2nd in both the Scottish and the British Pipe Band Championships.
A prolific teaching oraganisation, Boghall and Bathgate still run the Juvenile and Novice Juvenile Pipe Bands to encourage young people in the local area to take up Piping and Drumming. In 2009, the Juvenile band were both European and British champions. The Juvenile drum corps also captured the World Champions title.
Previous Pipe Majors
| 1973–1986 | P/M Robert Martin |
| 1986–1995 | P/M Craig Walker |
| 1996–present | P/M Ross Walker |