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Ingersoll Pipe Band

Volume 5 Issue 4 December 2014

The Year End Wrap-Up

Well we made it! Another year of successful parades, concerts and memorial services has come and gone. Our latest engagements were numerous Santa Claus parades which once again showcased the true "pioneering" spirit (spirits if you include the odd flask) of all the band members. Neither rain, nor sleet nor snow kept us from marching down many a main and side street in several towns and villages in the surrounding area! The smiles on the enthusiastic faces that lined the parade routes warmed our hearts (if not our hands or toes).

Thank you to our Drum Major Gail and Pipe Major Jack for their leadership and constant good humour!

Now for a well deserved respite from parades for everyone. But don't get too lazy .... Weekly practices will continue through the winter months

Your Editor, Veronica

so we expect to see you all frequently in 2015. For those heading off to various holiday destinations, enjoy! We will see you all back at the band hall whenever you are in town!

Your editor, Veronica

Inside This Issue

Pg. 1 Year End Wrap-Up

Pg. 2 Remembrance Day

Pg. 3 & 4 The Christmas Parades

Pg. 5 & 6 More Parades / The Year of the Cat

Pg. 7 - 11 Annual Christmas Party & Awards

Pg. 12 Upcoming Events

Pg. 13 Robbie Burns' Night

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Remembrance Day 2014

Ingersoll Remembers

Ingersoll resident and Second World War veteran Wally Naisbitt, right, was among those who laid a wreath at the Cenotaph outside the Town Centre during Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ingersoll on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014. Hundreds of people turned out to this year's ceremony. JOHN TAPLEY/INGERSOLL

TIMES/QMI AGENCY

As it has for countless number of years, the Ingersoll Pipe Band led the distinguished parade of veterans and legion members in the annual Remembrance Day parade. This year the church service was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church. After the brief service, the parade with the Royal Canadian Legion colour guard at the forefront marched south on Thames St. to the town cenotaph on Oxford St. where the traditional service of remembrance was held.

Members of the Hillcrest Memorial Legion Branch 119 outside of Sacred Heart Church

Legion Vet and Member by the Town Hall

Pipe Band Members Leading Our Vets and

Dignitaries down Thames St.

Pipers Nancy and Laurie Pre-Parade (Thanks to Laurie's wife, Carol for the IPB snaps).

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Outreach News

The Christmas Parades

Saturday November 15th

Somewhere along the parade route this year in Ingersoll, we were all hoping that Santa would deliver the above Christmas wish to all the IPB members. It was a very cold and blustery morning that began the day of "The Big Three" (and we're not talking about the Indianapolis 500 Gordons' playlist!). Ingersoll saw us on the move at 11 AM with Tillsonburg following at 2 PM and then Woodstock at 6:30 PM. Overall parade conditions improved as the day warmed up (slightly), and by the time we completed the third parade, we were very happy to sit down to a hot bowl of soup and other goodies at the Woodstock Legion Hall. Rumour has it that next year we may be looking at ONLY two parades on one day and not a three- fold experience. :(

Downtown Ingersoll Greeting Santa

Ingersoll's Mayor Ted staying cozy with his

Roger's broadcast co-host

Tillsonburg's Santa Wishing One and All

A Merry Christmas

Woodstock's Santa with All His Reindeer

We even got a shout-out in The Tillsonburg

News - "Four bands are scheduled to

participate on the 15th, including the Tomato

Soup Band. The Ingersoll Pipe Band will be

making the full three-parade circuit with

Saturday Santa parades in Tillsonburg,

Ingersoll and Woodstock, all on the same

day. "

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LOOK

Aylmer Santa Claus Parade

Saturday November 22nd

From the pages of "The Aylmer Express" - Another great Santa Claus parade was staged by the Kinsmen Club in Aylmer Saturday although some readers commented that it appeared shorter and noticeably absent was the Burlington Band which was a crowd favourite the past two years. Said Parade co-organizer Paul Bode: “The consensus of the Kinsmen was that the parade did seem shorter this year. It was still close to an hour at any point though. Definitely the cold, damp, windy weather had a huge impact on entries and participants. We certainly appreciate the resiliency that everyone displayed given the conditions. We’re still investigating what happened to the MM Robinson Drum line. Arrangements with the marching bands are only verbal and they don’t get paid unless they show up. Overall the Kinsmen Club was quite happy with the day.”

The IPB members certainly were resilient in Aylmer that day!

A brief downpour at the beginning failed to dampen attendance at Aylmer’s Santa parade Saturday. (photo by Don Durkee)

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Springfield & Belmont

Santa Claus Parades

December 6th and 7th

Advance publicity in "The Aylmer Express" for both the Springfield and Belmont parades -

"The Springfield parade is Saturday at 1 pm, starting from the east end of the Village by Catherine Street and travelling along Ron McNeil Line to Omemee Street and down Broadway. We have 3 bands this year – Ingersoll Pipe Band, Mocha Temple Trumpet Band and, new this year, the London Shriner’s Oriental Band. Entrants are welcome right up to parade time. Santa & Mrs Claus will be at the Fire Hall after the parade handing out candy and talking to all the kids."

”The 12th Annual Belmont Santa Claus Parade will be this Sunday at 6 pm. The parade travels north from the Belmont Farm Supply on Belmont Road to Washburn St. Non perishables will be collected along the route by the Belmont Fire Department. Free hot chocolate at Farrow Financial. Three bands - Ingersoll Pipe Band, Mocha Oriental Band, and the Tomato Soup Band – will be

performing."

So we made the paper twice!!!!!!

What the newspaper failed to mention was the annual post parade get-together hosted by the Gales for all the band members. Delicious bowls of chili and stew to warm us up. Lots of hot chocolate as well. Who could ask for anything more! Thanks, Don and Kelly for being such great hosts.

The Official Lighting of the Lights

in Ingersoll

November 20th

The Ingersoll Pipe Band made its traditional Yuletide march from Charles and Thames St. up to the gazebo in the downtown core. Here we delighted the crowds with a few traditional tunes as well as two new "seasonal favourites " that we added to our repertoire - "Jingle Bells" and "Good King Wenceslas". Thanks to Harold for providing these photos from the night's celebrations.

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Year of the Cat? If you follow the

Chinese zodiac, 2014 was the year of the Horse. Not so much around the Pipe Band

Hall. 2014 became the Year of the Cat!

On Thursday September 4th, the pipers and drummers were outside of the band hall tuning up their instruments. Amidst the squawks and groans of the drones, the Matthews family heard a feeble cry for help. A tiny kitten was trapped inside a tire rim of a neighbouring garage. With much effort and skill, the kitten was rescued and she was released from her steel trap.

Dave Kincaid volunteered to take the kitten to Thamesford and provide a warm and loving home for her despite the fact that he and his wife, Pat already had a couple of cats and were "cat"sitting their daughter's cats! Pat sent the following photos so we can see how "Piper" has thrived! What a lucky girl!

Piper at 7 weeks - 1.2 lb. Sept. 5th

Piper at 16 weeks - 4.3 lb.

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Battle of Britain Ceremony Ingersoll

Sunday September 14th

Ingersoll Pipe Band Christmas Party

Saturday December 6th

This year's annual band party was a huge success - a great turnout, co-operative weather, scrumptious food provided by "Eat Your Heart Out", and fabulous dancing music provided by a top notch DJ! Thanks to President Andy Longridge for heading up the committee for this event. After the feasting, the much anticipated awards part of the evening occurred. Thanks to John Lynes, many of these memorable moments of accomplishment were captured. The following photo spread attempts to portray some of the participants and the festivities.

Catering Staff "Eat Your Heart Out"

Our DJ for the evening

George, Wilson & Eleanore

Doug & Catherine

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Jerry and Jackie

Gail and Marlene

Mark, Jane & Steve

Paul & Henny

Chris, Lisa's Daughter, Dave, and Lisa

Juanita

Hamish, Harold, Nancy, & Alister (with adopted Chris!)

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Kelly, Winston & Maureen

Andy & Dorothy

MaryEllen, Charlie & Joanne

Don & Kelly

Doug and Katie

Kevin

Duncan & Fiona

Pat Jack & Barb

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Jon, Marilyn and Son #1

Jack & Merilee

Carol, Laurie, Stew, and Jane

Dave & Pat

And The Award Goes To ........

Trophy presentations for 2014 -

Cruiser Trophy: presented by Dave Kincaid to Chris Radford for leaving his drum in the middle of the road.

Most Improved Piper: Ron Marshall

Most Improved Drummer: Lisa Haycock

Bandsman Of The Year : presented by Jack Habkirk and Gail McKay to Doug Glover.

Long Service Awards:

5 Years - John Lynes 10 Years - Doug Collins 10 Years - Matt Wright 15 Years - Ross Crawford 20 Years - Charlie Thompson 35 Years - Paul Weber

Golf Lowest Score - Jerry Chevrier Longest Drive - Laurie Marson

Horseshoes Mark Ella & Dave Presswell /Dave Kincaid

The Ode to the Haggis

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A Photo Gallery of Our 2014 Winners & Honorees

Bandsman of the Year - Doug with Gail & Jack

Drummer - Lisa with Gail

Cruiser - Chris with Dave K

Horseshoes - Mark, John, Dave P

Piper - Ron with Jack

Pins - Charlie & Paul

Golfers - Jerry and Laurie and Participants

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Pins - Doug and Paul

Head Table Guests

Upcoming Events

New Year's Levees

Thursday Januray 1st 2015

Beginning at 11:00 AM at The Ingersoll Legion Br. 119

211 Thames St. N.

followed by receptions in Woodstock at

The Woodstock Legion Br. 55

576 Brant St. And

The Woodstock Navy Club 959 James Street

IPB Annual Meeting

January 11 2015 2PM

The Ingersoll Pipe Band executive encourages everyone to come out and share their opinions and ideas at our annual general meeting. Membership is important on all the various committees. We need you to be involved in IPB's future.

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See Wilson for tickets!