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PERTH AND DISTRICT PIPE BAND HISTORY 2013 JANUARY 2013 Pipe Major Alistair Duthie has a long-standing relationship with Perth Gaelic Society. He performed at the first of their 2013 ceilidhs in St Matthew’s Church Hall in Perth on Friday the 11th of January. Our younger players were in action at the Vale of Atholl junior solo competition held in Pitlochry on the 19th of January and came home with a range of prizes: Piping: Novice 12 and under - Jamie Sinclair 2nd, Brogan Townsley 3rd and Callum Younger 6th. Under 15 jig - Aaron Bryce 3rd Drumming: Pad - Rebecca Oswald 2nd Novice tenor - Aaron Bryce 1st (Yes, the same Aaron as above!), Erin Gillies 2nd Tenor - Eilidh Duthie 3rd. Snare 15-18 years - Laura Oswald 5th Dress and Deportment - Aaron Bryce 2nd The band helped out two of the Tesco stores in Perth on the 25th of January, Burns’ Night. Peter Scott played in the haggis at Crieff Road. Meanwhile, a quartet consisting of David Wright as the pipe major, Duncan Mackinnon, Neil Myles and Ian Stevenson were in action at Edinburgh Road. They played an extensive range of sets in the foyer out of the snow including the appropriate A man’s a man for a’ that. They marched through the store as a finale. (Thanks to shopper, Donna, for the photo.) The Pipe Major was busy playing for two funerals.

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PERTH AND DISTRICT PIPE BAND HISTORY 2013

JANUARY 2013 Pipe Major Alistair Duthie has a long-standing relationship with Perth Gaelic Society. He performed at the first of their 2013 ceilidhs in St Matthew’s Church Hall in Perth on Friday the 11th of January. Our younger players were in action at the Vale of Atholl junior solo competition held in Pitlochry on the 19th of January and came home with a range of prizes: Piping: Novice 12 and under - Jamie Sinclair 2nd, Brogan Townsley 3rd and Callum Younger 6th. Under 15 jig - Aaron Bryce 3rd Drumming: Pad - Rebecca Oswald 2nd Novice tenor - Aaron Bryce 1st (Yes, the same Aaron as above!), Erin Gillies 2nd Tenor - Eilidh Duthie 3rd. Snare 15-18 years - Laura Oswald 5th Dress and Deportment - Aaron Bryce 2nd

The band helped out two of the Tesco stores in Perth on the 25th of January, Burns’ Night. Peter Scott played in the haggis at Crieff Road. Meanwhile, a quartet consisting of David Wright as the pipe major, Duncan Mackinnon, Neil Myles and Ian Stevenson were in action at Edinburgh Road. They played an extensive range of sets in the foyer out of the snow including the appropriate A man’s a man for a’ that. They marched through the store as a finale. (Thanks to shopper, Donna, for the photo.) The Pipe Major was busy playing for two funerals.

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FEBRUARY 2013

Playing in his ex officio role as City Piper, the Pipe Major was involved in the Provost’s Burns Supper on the 1st of February at St John’s Kirk.

A trio of pipers, Jamie, Ross and Aaron as shown on the photo, entertained guests attending the Perform in Perth coffee morning at St Matthew’s Church on Saturday the 2nd of February.

The Pipe Major led a 9-strong mini-band of school-aged players who performed at the final day of the Scottish Badminton Championships which were held on the 3rd of February in Bells’ Sports Centre in Perth. Alistair Duthie, P/M, was in action at the Perth Gaelic Society ceilidh in St Matthew’s Church Hall in Perth on the evening of the 8th. Our Secretary, Neil Myles, made a very rare solo appearance at lunchtime on the 14th of February. Not for Valentine’s Day, but for a rescheduled Burns’ Supper at the old folk’s home at Corrie Place in Scone.

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MARCH 2013

The band held its annual ceilidh in the Ex-Servicemen’s Club in Perth on the 1st of March. We were very pleased that both our patrons and spouses could attend. A 30-strong band opened the entertainment with a range of sets. There was a gaelic choir, singers from as far away as Aberdeenshire and Kinloch Rannoch, dancers and the Lomond Ceilidh band as part of the entertainment. The Provost presented the ‘most improved’ prizes to our younger members: • Piper - Aaron Bryce • Learner Piper - Callum Younger • Side Drummer - Rebecca Oswald • Tenor Drummer - Erin Gillies She also handed over the ‘Panda’ award to the member who had done the daftest thing in the last year. (Congratulations Robin!) Thanks to all who donated such a big number of items for the raffle. Peter Scott was in action the following day at the Community centre in Tulloch playing for an event organised by a group of local organisations from 11am. Ross MacKinnon was the piper at the March ceilidh of the Perth Gaelic Society held in St Matthew’s Church Hall in Perth. Irene Black and Neil Myles attended the RSPBA AGM in Glasgow on the 9th. 35 bands from all over the UK were represented in addition to those of the directors of the company. This was a shorter meeting than usual. All 4 proposals for amendments to the rules and standing orders were passed virtually unanimously, a rare occurrence. The RSPBA continues to be in sound financial health. The list of prize winners at the Perform in Perth piping and drumming competitions which took place on Sunday the 10th of March was heavily populated with young players from the P&D:

• Under 13 novice piping - Callum Younger - 1st • Under 13 MSR - Jamie Sinclair - 1st • 13-16 years novice piping - Ross MacKinnon - 1st • 3-16 years MSR - Aaron Bryce - 1st • Under 13 pad - Rebecca Oswald - 1st; Aiden Roach - 2nd • 13-16 years novice drumming - Cameron Gillies - 2nd; Nicola Sinclair - 3rd

John Macfadyen’s son was married in the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry on the 23rd of March and the band, including John, played at the reception in the evening. There was a very good turnout: 28 players entertained an enthusiastic audience. Afterwards, there was a social for an hour or so in the Bankfoot Inn for all the members who had participated. Well done to Sandy, the Earnside Coaches driver who coped with the very tricky snow and ice.

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APRIL 2013

A large band turned out for duty at McDiarmid Park on the evening of Friday the 12th of April. The occasion was the under 18 schoolboy international between Scotland and England. A number of sets were played prior to the match commencing. Some neat footwork was needed by the band rather than the players as we avoided various bits of equipment and footballs lying around the route we marched along! There were a number of prizewinners from the pipers who attended the Strathmore solo competition in Kirriemuir on the 20th of April. Well done! : Under 13 novice piping: 3rd Brogan Townsley, 5th Jamie Sinclair, 7th equal Callum Younger MSR under 15 years - 1st Aaron Bryce Jig under 15 years - 1st Aaron Bryce Medley under 15 years - 2nd Aaron Bryce The 2013 competition season started on the 27th with the Dundee, Perth and Angus branch indoor mini-bands held at Forfar Academy. A number of pipers new to competing with the band were able to play. The judges gave us 8th and 13th places out of the 20 bands performing that morning. One piper had huge problems with his pipes on stage and the 3rd band could not be judged.

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MAY 2013

May can produce warm and pleasant conditions in which play; however, Saturday the 4th was the exact opposite for the engagement at a wedding reception at McGregor’s Farm close to Balvaird Castle. No, the cold wind blew very strongly with some rain thrown in for good measure. Nevertheless, the band played on manfully despite the frozen fingers for a full 40 minutes as agreed. Aaron Bryce even managed to pipe in all the guests beforehand. In the first outdoor competition of the season at Kinross we came home with a trophy. After 6th place in the Grade 4 marches ie in the middle of the pack we turned in a good performance in the MSR and came second - the pipers were 2nd and the drummers 1st. This is the best early season result that the band has achieved for a few years. Well done in particular to Stewart and Jamie who were playing in the outdoor competition band for the first time. Alistair Duthie played for about 30 minutes outside the St John’s Kirk to welcome guests to the first of the lunchtime concerts put on by one of the schools in Perth and Kinross. Robin MacIntyre did the following day, the 17th, and David Wright covered the 18th. The following week was covered by Aaron Bryce on two days, Jenny Latham and Duncan McFadzean. The first major of the season, the British Championships, was in the new venue of Bathgate rather than Dumbarton. Different location ... different weather ie lots of sunshine rather than the cold and wet of the last few years. However, it didn’t make for a better result than we normally get early in the season and the overall placing was a disappointing 16th. The Pipe Major has gained an enviable reputation for the speeches he makes to groups such as Probus and Rotary. He was in good form at the St Leonard’s Probus Club on Thursday the 23rd of May in the Dewar’s Centre in Perth. Indeed, they wrote a report in the Perthshire Advertiser which can easily be described as ‘wonderful’. Well done the pipey!

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JUNE 2013

The band turned out to help Robert Douglas Memorial Primary School in Scone on Saturday the 1st June. Appropriately, there was a very good turnout of playing members who live in the village. A series of sets were played on two occasions and the band assembled for a photograph alongside the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance helicopter which had landed very close by on the football pitch.

The Kirking of the Council took a novel route this year: from the Concert Hall via Kinnoull Street and High Street to St John’s Kirk. The return was through George Street and back to the start point. 33 players took part in the parades, both of which enjoyed warm, fine weather. The Provost, Liz Grant, thanked the band in her speech to the larger than usual number of guests who had marched with the Lord Lieutenant, councillors and High Constables. The Lord Lieutenant took the time to come over to the band at the end of the engagement to congratulate us on our playing and the large number of members who took part. Luncarty Football Club held their gala day at their home ground of Brownlands in the village on Saturday the 8th of June. After opening the event at noon the band also played on two more occasions in the afternoon. Beforehand, we marched along the road from the Duthie residence; on the way back up the hill time was taken to play a few sets for one of the oldest members of Luncarty, a lady who will be 100 years old on her next birthday. It was a very warm, sunny day so the players were appreciative of a cuppa etc at Chez Duthie at the end of the engagement. The band entered the Strathmore competition for the first time in a number of years. In the grade 4 marches a 4th place was gained overall with the drummers coming in at a creditable second position. As at Kinross, the MSR result was better than the marches and so it proved once again - a first place for both piping and drumming. This puts us in lead position after two events in this format for the branch championships in our grade. Well done to all who competed.

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A 30 strong band led the re-union parade of the Black Watch veterans to Balhousie Castle from the North Inch. Once at the castle we played a couple of sets to entertain the many guests present. Also in attendance were the 42nd Royal Highlanders, a band of pipes, fifes and old style drums all the way from Indiana, USA who had also marched from the Inch. They gave a colourful show wearing uniforms and parading an old-style Union Jack similar to those of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment in their days in America prior to and during their war of independence in the latter part of the 18th century.

Alistair Duthie was back at Balhousie Castle the following day. This time he was there in his role as City Piper and he played as part of the Armed Forces’ day event. There were some signs of the green shoots of progress in a major championship on the 29th of June at Forres with the pipe corps performing better than at Bathgate. Overall we came in 11th; still a way to go to get into the prize list ie a top 6 finish.

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JULY 2013

The band always enjoy playing at the Kincarrathie House Garden Fete each year: lovely venue, appreciate audience and high class afternoon cuppa and goodies! This year was no exception and the weather was brilliant too. It was another event for our younger members, this time at the cinema in Mill Street. A good number attended and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. On the 21st of July the restaurant at Bankfoot Inn was chock a block with members at lunchtime. They had gathered to say thanks to our oldest member, Alex Dingwall, and his wife Mima. Alex first started learning with us under the tutelage of his dad (a member from 1903!) before the 2nd World War and played the base drum with the band in competition until the mid 1980s. Despite an absolute minimum of notice a large band turned out at McDiarmid Park for the St Johnstone versus Rosenborg (Norway) 2nd round Europa League tie. As previously at this venue we played a while before the match and at half time. The Scottish Championships in Dumbarton on the 27th was not a happy hunting ground in the search for a prize. The drummers came in at the mid point of 7th but the piping judges and ensemble one all gave 13th place and the band achieved 13th overall.

The Pipe Major is an ardent searcher of historic information about our band and also military pipe bands in the Perth area. He recently unearthed a mounted drum skin presented to St Johnstone FC for their 50th anniversary. To celebrate they played Arsenal at Muirton Park (where ASDA now stands). Note that the band was still called by some the Perth and District Prize Band in those days.

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AUGUST 2013 Perth Show is always held in the first week in August. The band has been playing there for many, many years. We performed in the ring once and had two long marches with regular stops to play in a circle whilst passing every one of the large number of stalls at the show. North Muirton Community Association held a fair next to the Jeanfield Swifts’ ground off Bute Drive on Sunday the 4th of August. A mini-band was in attendance. Well done to Eilidh Duthie on her first public event playing the base drum.

The judges from Britain in Bloom were in Perth on Monday the 5th. The Pipe Major entertained them after lunch at the Hotel Mercure. At the practice that night we had a sizeable group of young students from China, Japan and Spain who attended as part of their stay with the University of the Highlands and Islands in Perth. They were introduced by Neil Myles to Alex Dingwall, our oldest member by far and saw pictures of him in the band over 60 years ago. They spent some time watching the band chanter practice and outdoor on pipes, young players practising on the chanter and pipes, Aaron playing pipes and small pipes, a mini-band in action, and a demonstration on building a set of pipes by Alastair Bryce.

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They really enjoyed trying on kilts and getting their photos taken holding a set of pipes. The group stated that they had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thanks to UHI for their donation.

Javier Zorrilla was brave enough to try on a kilt

St Johnstone had been pleased with the band’s contribution at the FC Rosenborg Europa tie and invited us back for a repeat performance when FC Minsk came to play on Thursday the 8th of August. Yet again a very large band turned out to entertain the even larger support that week at McDiarmid Park. Saturday the 10th of August was no less than a triple-header for engagements: 1 - Perform at the start of the Kilt Run at 1pm. 2 - Nip up in cars to Beechgrove House on the Western Edge and play a number of sets for their open day. 3 - Return to the North Inch and play a beating the retreat at 4.45pm to entertain the crowds.

2013 was a year in which Perth Highland Games was held on the Sunday before the World Championships in Glasgow. Always in these circumstances there is a large entry from overseas bands, many of whom are very good indeed. For instance, 21 bands had entered for Grade 4. To come 6th was a creditable performance. In the MSR we came 4th, the second highest position of all our branch bands. It was very heavy rain for tuning up at the World Championships at Glasgow Green on the 17th. It did go off just as we went on to play. The performance was thought to be pretty decent but the judges disagreed and gave us 13th place. It was notable that those who qualified for the final came from the later bands in the draw which had the better weather for their preparations.

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Saturday 24th August involved another triple-header of jobs: Opening the Open Day at Upper Springland which involved a few sets from 1pm to 1.25. Well done to Fergus and Liam Younger for whom this was their first public performance. It was also the first occasion that the band’s investment in new half size drums to help younger side drummers to progress at a faster rate had reaped reward. A very quick trip to Scone ensued to permit the band to march on at 1.55 as part of the opening ceremony at Scone Fete. Two stints of a number of sets followed up to 3 10. Next up was a mini-band finishing off the entertainment at Glencarse Fete located in front of Inchyra House. We had never played there before as a band. The setting is an attractive venue and, hopefully, we will be able to play at the next fete in two years’ time. At Crieff Highland Games on the Sunday the band played in a march from the town to the games field before taking part in no less than 3 competitions. The grade 4 marches produced a creditable 3rd place, our best position of the season. In the MSR we were equal first on total points and only lost out on piping preference by a single point. Well done to the drummers who came top. The grade 1 competition was opened up to all bands to increase the number of competitors so we entered it on the day, played well and came 5th. As a result we finished up 3rd for the season in the branch grade 4 championships with the drum corps picking up a second place. Aaron Bryce volunteered to play for the awards ceremony of Beautiful Perth on the 28th of August. Robin MacIntyre and David Wright provided a couple of hours piping entertainment at the Aviva charity day on the 30th of August. We try hard to turn out a small group to play at the Rotary Fair in Perth which always clashes with the last major competition of the season at Cowal which the vast bulk of the band attends. Robin MacIntyre led a quartet which also included Duncan McFadzean, Neil Myles and Ian Stewart. They played 3 extensive sets of tunes between 10.30 and 12.30 at King Edward Street and beside the Soutar Ring. In the aforementioned Cowal Games the band did somewhat better than last year with a 13th place overall. The drummers were 9th but the ensemble position didn’t help in our quest to get into the top 7 and come home with a trophy.

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SEPTEMBER 2013 In what must be a first for the band in its entire history, the band news can incorporate an item saying that we have players in the Moscow Tattoo! A couple of our members were invited to take part. Daniel Sweeney and Gavin Stewart were able to go and they are currently about half way through their 10 days of performances. On the 7th of September the prestigious Braemar Gathering was held and attended by the Queen and a good number of the royal family. We were fortunate to be invited to play. It is a demanding schedule but a very enjoyable one: in the arena, outside the Overseas Tent and in three massed bands, two of which involved a march the length of the town and around the arena. A stop was made again at the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel for a meal on the way home.

A mini-band turned out at the Farming Yesteryear event held at Scone Palace on Sunday the 8th of September. A few sets were played about 9am and we played again at lunchtime. Callum Younger played for the first time at one of the regular Perth Gaelic Society nights at St Matthew’s Church Hall on Friday the 13th of September.

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There was the usual spectacle of the bands parading down through the town before the start of the events at the Pitlochry Highland Games on the 14th. We often reserve some of our best competitive results for when performing there but this year was an exception with only a 7th place overall. Well done to Callum Younger on his first competitive appearance with the band. On the 21st of September a 16-strong band of players aged 18+ played an extensive repertoire lasting for 45 minutes at a wedding in Dewar’s Centre in Perth. Not only was this a long time to play but the temperature and humidity were both high. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable event which ran to the timings we had been given; a rare occurrence for a wedding. Where were the under 18s? At the band disco in the 208 on Crieff Road. They enjoyed the music and buffet. A few adults who had been at Dewar’s joined them for the latter part of the event. Danny Sweeney and Gavin Stewart have returned from their trip to Moscow having thoroughly enjoyed the time there. They had lots of tunes to learn before they went, a few more during practices before the Tattoo started and a Russian Folk song tune on the pipes later on too. That went down very well indeed with the Mucovites who attended the events.

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OCTOBER 2013

The band returned home from the Brechin Solos on the 5th of October with a plethora of prizes! Novice piping 18 years and under: 1st - Brogan Townsley, 2nd Callum Younger, 3rd - Jamie Sinclair. Intermediate piping 18 years and under: 2nd - Ross MacKinnon. 18 years and under 6/8 march: 3rd - Aaron Bryce, 6th - Ross MacKinnon. 15 - 18 years MSR: 2nd - Aaron Bryce 15 - 18 years Piobaireachd: 3rd - Aaron Bryce 18 years and under jig: 3rd - Aaron Bryce Congratulations to Aaron who was the overall piping champion. Drumming on pad: 2nd - Fergus Younger Novice Drumming: 2nd - Nicola Sinclair 18 years and under Novice Tenor Drumming: 2nd - Erin Gillies 18 years and under Tenor Drumming: 1st - Aaron Bryce, 2nd - Erin Gillies. Maybe worth noting about Aaron’s drumming performance is that he won at the competition in Pitlochry in January in his first ever tenor drumming competition and was therefore promoted out of novice. He won this one too at his first attempt at under 18 level. Remember, he was the piping champion! Members are pulling his leg about when he will take up snare drumming as well.

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NOVEMBER 2013

The band held its AGM on Thursday the 7th of November in the theatre at Upper Springland. Alistair Duthie was elected as Pipe Major. Newly elected to post were Laura Oswald as Leading Drummer, Adam Scrimgeour as treasurer and Gavin Stewart as Pipers’ Rep. The P/M thanked Owen Sweeney, Kerry Smith and Ian Sinclair who had previously held these posts. The band marched at the head of the civilian organisations and the council with the guard of the Society Of The High Constables of Perth on Remembrance Sunday on the 10th of November to the St John’s Kirk from the Concert Hall and to the foot of the High Street after the service. Pipe Sergeant Alistair McIntosh played the lament at the North Church between the two parades. Robin MacIntyre was, meantime, carrying out the same role at Luncarty. Bankfoot members were in action at the Remembrance service in their village. In the afternoon a band led the parade from the Scone Old Church car park to the memorial in the village. Pipe Major Alistair Duthie played The Flowers of the Forest at the service held there. The annual Big Switch On of the lights in central Perth is always accompanied by a large range of entertainers and has a vibrant atmosphere. A number of streets are closed to traffic. The crowds were really big again this year. We played for about an hour near the Soutar Ring in the afternoon and led the large parade, including Santa Claus being towed by a reindeer from the Thimblerow car park to the end of George Street starting at 5.30pm; it was cold! Even with the police and stewards trying to clear a way there were times when the pipers were almost shoulder to shoulder going down the High Street.

Then it was up to an equally chilly Blair Castle to play a beating the retreat in the courtyard at 8.30 as part of the entertainment for the large number of guests at the wedding reception being held there. This was, as usual, well received by the guests who watched us.

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The branch piping and drumming solos were held for the first time in Craigie High School on the 30th of November. It was a successful day of competition for our youngsters, especially the drummers. Piping: • Chanter - 1st Chloe Donaldson, 4th Katie Duthie • 18 and under novice piping - 5th Callum Younger • 18 and under march - 4th Ross MacKinnon • 18 and under MSR - 4th Aaron Bryce Drumming: • Pad - 1st Liam Younger, 2nd Fergus Younger • Novice tenor drumming - 2nd Erin Gillies • Tenor drumming, march - 2nd Erin Gillies, 3rd Aaron Bryce, 4th Eilidh Duthie • Tenor drumming, MSR - 1st Erin Gillies

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DECEMBER 2013

Earlier in the year there was a function held for the younger members which went extremely well. The adults had an equally good time at their equivalent social which was held in Wotherspoon’s in Perth on Saturday the 7th of December. Alistair Duthie was accompanied by Pete Iannetta to play for 45 minutes ahead of the annual dinner of the High Constables of the City of Perth which was held on the 11th of December in the Salutation Hotel. They were invited, as always is the case, to join the members for the meal afterwards. It was a busy time at Tesco Edinburgh Road store on Saturday 14th of December. The pipers played a few sets as a group but mainly entertained the shoppers as two mini-bands, one led by the Pipe Major and the other of the Scone bus pass brigade with Robin MacIntyre in charge. In the afternoon there was also a drummer. A group comprised mainly of youngsters played a sterling roll as bucket shakers: Finlay and Alastair MacIntosh am and Rhys, Holly, and Jack Barr pm along with Jamie Allan. Aaron Bryce nipped from Tesco’s to the North Inch Campus to play a Christmas carol for the Polish school’s carol concert and then played for a time back at Tesco’s again. For the first time in a long while the band had to confront wet, cold and windy conditions for an engagement in Perth. The date was the 21st of December when we played on behalf of the council at North St John’s Street, St John’s Street and at two locations in the High Street. Thanks to the hardy souls who played quite a range of sets and the good number of bucket shakers.

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We were very thankful that the engagement at Tesco Crieff Road on the 22nd involved playing in their newly extended entrance foyer rather than outside because the weather was pretty miserable: long spells of sleet and a snow shower. Two large mini-bands led by Pipe Major Alistair Duthie or Pipe Sergeant Alistair McIntosh alternately entertained the shoppers non-stop from 11am to almost 2pm. Well done to Ethan Reid who played for the first time with the band. Thank you to our bucket shakers and to the shopping public who donated generously. Also thanks to Tesco for the use of their staff restaurant and the training room for storing equipment between performances. Our final engagement for 2013, number 64 for the year, was at Marks and Spencer’s in Perth on Tuesday the 31st of December. The bag packers were in action from 8am to 3.45; teams of pipers, drummers and soloists kept up an almost non-stop series of tunes from 9.15 to 3.30 outside the store. Well done to all! Thank you to the shoppers in M&S and all the passers-by in the High Street who contributed to our buckets throughout the day helping us raise the most income from any engagement in the whole year. Thanks too to the Lloyds Banking Group for allowing one of their staff, Kirsty Stevenson, to spend a day helping us as part of their contribution to charities in the UK. And finally, a sincere note of appreciation of Marks and Spencer for permission to hold the bag packing, the use of their staff room to store pipes and drums between performances and the cups of tea on offer.