Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships 2010

The fund raising family ceilidh held in the Commodore Hotel on Friday 2nd March 2012 was once again a great success, raising almost £400 for the Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships on Sunday 17 June 2012. Helensburgh & District Pipe Band played a selection of marches and slow airs, including a new tune specially written for Sir Malcolm Colquhoun. Several new young pipe band members performed - including the two youngest - Chloe on tenor drum and Reece on side drum. Over 20 young highland dancers from Margaret Rose School of Dance once again gave a wonderful display of solo and group dances, including dances they will perform in Hawaii at the end of March. New to the annual ceilidh were Lomond School Traditional Music Group who entertained us with fiddle, clarsach, flute and Gaelic song - very impressive. Hell for Leather, Folk/Ceilidh/Rock Band once again had the floor filled with dancers from the start and continued till almost mid-night, with people wanting to book for next year's ceilidh before they left - our next fund raising event is the annual bag pack at the Co-op and Tesco in May 2012

Thank you to all the artistes, Eric Wallace MC, Robert Paterson - Manager, Commodore Hotel and all those who so generously donated prizes and supported the event.

Our last fund raising event was a bag pack at the Co-op in Helensburgh on Sunday 7 June 2011 from which we raised £400. A special thanks to all who helped our committee members on the day including members of the Helensburgh & District Pipe Band and the Margaret Rose School of Dance. Thanks too to the Co-op staff and the public for their patience and generosity.

On 27 May we received a much needed boost to our funds from Awards for All Scotland when we gained a lottery grant of £9,700 - a very prestigous honour indeed. This will go towards purchasing much needed equipment and hopefully help ensure the future of the event so that we may continue promoting Scottish traditional music and dance to an ever increasing audience.

On Sunday 19 June 2011 we held the 10th Anniversary Bicentenary Pipe Band Championships with a higher number of entries and performances than ever before. Over 500 pipers and drummers from 18 pipe bands gave almost 30 performances at Hermitage Park competing for over 30 trophies and many other prizes. At Victoria Halls over 100 highland dancers competed for a vast array of trophies and medals throughout the day. The opening parade was once again led by the Chieftain and Chairperson with Sir Malcolm Colquhoun officially opening the event. The spectacular closing parade marched down Sinclair Street with 300 pipers and drummers and the winning highland dancers with their trophies - all wearing their special 10th Anniversary medals, watched by the biggest ever crowd - the perfect end to a perfect day once again!

The committee wish to thank, most sincerely, all those who supported the event in whatever way - ie. the competitors, officials, judges, stewards, volunteers, Army Cadets, Argyll Volunteers, Rosneath Highland Games Committee members, Victoria Halls staff, the Park Keeper, Co-op Funeralcare, Rosslea Hotel, Logie Baird, the Community Advertiser, Helensburgh Advertiser, the police, Security, St Andrews First Aid, Helensburgh & District Pipe Band and our chieftain, Sir Malcolm Colquhoun'. A special thank you also to Argyll & Bute Council for their generous support and a grant of £4,000.