To pipe and to drum - that’s what members of the Lord Selkirk Boys Pipe Band want to do, and what they take lessons all year to learn and perfect. During the year their parents actively fundraise in order to fund equipment, uniforms and trips. However, when summer comes, the boys really get a chance to do what they have been taught to do - play and march, and earn some money for the band too!!
The warm weather season began in June with the 50th Anniversary Traveller’s Day parade in Brandon where the band was a BIG hit. Along with their earnings from the parade, the boys came home with 2 huge keeper trophies - 2005 Grand Champions and the 1st Place Pipe Band. What a great way to kick off the summer!
Manitoba Marathon and Father’s Day saw the boys scattered throughout the city. Some got up very early to play on Wellington Crescent to cheer on the Marathon runners. Others took turns throughout the day piping at the Elmwood Cemetery to the delight of those making a Father’s Day visit to loved ones interred there.
A flooded park didn’t keep the Selkirk Highland Games from taking place on the July long weekend. Many boys competed individually, pipers played while drummers competed solos, and the bands battled it out in the afternoon. The following day, the whole exercise was repeated again at Winnipeg Beach for “Bands on the Boardwalk”. It was a gorgeous day, so it was quite a shock when in a matter of minutes the sky blackened, the wind roared, and tremendous rain and hail brought an end to the competition. Winners missed hearing their names announced - oh well - that’s when it’s great to have the Winnipeg Scottish Festival website to check out.
The rest of July saw the boys playing for town parades like Carmen and Neepawa. The hot weather of in early August made it hot work performing at the Scottish Pavilion of Folklorama. However, the large crowds loved it. What an amazing group of boys. They are dedicated and supportive to “the team”. Bouts of stomach flu, mononucleosis and injured arms and toes didn’t keep them away from parades and performances!!
The rest of August saw the boys in Grunthal and Mordan where they once again earned ”Best Band”.
The September long weekend the boys played in St. Malo and Pine Falls where a terrific BBQ was served at the home of one of the band members.
(How more dedicated can one get than to live in Pine Falls, yet still have had several sons play with the band, and drive in to Winnipeg for every lesson and practice, as well as to out of town parades and competitions?!)
If I missed mentioning an event, maybe I flipped through my calendar too fast, or that was the day that our family was camping!!
The summer started with many of us wondering how we could possibly top the exciting summer of 2004 when we went to Scotland to compete at the World’s on Glasgow Green, but in the end, 2005 was still busy and fun with good camaraderie.
- Janet McCombe