PIPE BAND SOCIAL.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 26, 10 September 1920, Page 3

PIPE BAND SOCIAL.

A v«ry pleasant evening was spent by the band on Tuesday evening last, the guests being Pipe-major C. Wilson and Drummer Woodley. The evening was bright and breezy and truly characteristic of a Scottish welcome. With Chieftain Watson in the chair, things were kept moving. By-the-way, the Chief was wearing a tartan tie and in 4ns opening remarks displayed a great deal of enthusiasm for the bagpipes. Tho bagpipes was the oldest instrument in the world and was in existence 4,000 years before Christ. Early records of them were fonnd in Genesis. "Some sort of a harp," said the Chief, and we really wondered whether by any rortune or misfortune it was a Jew's harp. Andy McCulloclc seems to have a special liking for a tartan tie and according to Andy, the bagpipes can stir things up. On a recent trip to Dunedin, things got slightly complicated and when the bagpipes began to play "I neaidy made a — fool of m'sel'." The health of the guests was proposed by the chairman, who spoke of their long and energetic service. The band had a very successful career and if the younger members were to follow in their footsteps the band would soon regain its former position. Pip.e-major Wilson in replying to the toast, stated that he had been associated with the band for 26 years and was one of those who fcrmed it. If the time spent with the band was put into eight bours a day it would mean ten years of his life spent in the service of the band. Before bicyeles came in, ihe members had to walk to band practice and they were in regular attendance, which was not the case today. The old custom of the party was to march to Makarewa, each one playing the pipes. Yret with all the rnodern facilitifis of travel, it is difficult to get good attend. ance. Drummer Woodley had long experience with the band and betwesen Pipemajor Wilson and himself, many interesting remiuiscences of the early history of the band were toki. Pipe-major Wilson was presented by the members, with a gold albert, and Drummer Woodley, with a lever watch. In making ' the presentations, Mr Watson asked the ro.;ipu«ms t., r-eeive them as tokens oi the goodwill and fellowship existing between themsolves and the band.