Scotch College

Pipes & drums great win at Daylesford

As has become customary, the Pipes & Drums celebrated the end of 1999 with a weekend at Daylesford.

After having absorbed a number of new members during the year, the band for the street march was the largest Scotch band on record, comprising twenty-four pipers and fifteen drummers. The teachers, Messrs Ross Campbell, Colin Dods and Andrew Womersley were almost overcome with pride as they joined the boys for a stirring march up the main street of Daylesford.

Under the leadership of Pipe Major Peter North and Drum Major Robert Watson, the band went on to win the Juvenile Grade competition and to come second to the Maryborough Highland Pipe Band in Grade Four. During the day, our roving photographer captured three successive Drum Majors together under our banner; Kurt Abell ('95-'96); Robert Watson ('97-'99), David Silver ('00).

The day finished with our customary annual dinner at Hepburn Springs, where Robert Watson, Peter North, Tom Cade, Andrew Bullen, John Swan, Nick Waters, and Michael Harris were farewelled and presented with wall plaques in recognition of their time with the band.

The band's annual training camp at Cowes in January was a great success and the band turned out in sweltering conditions in the first week of term to entertain an appreciative audience at PLC, in celebration of their 125th year.

In contrast, the results at the Berwick Highland Gathering on 3 February; third in Grade 4 and second in Juvenile (both to Haileybury College) came as a shock after our success at Daylesford. This defeat will do no harm. Hard work has its rewards and I believe that our pipers and drummers now have a stronger resolve for the competitions ahead. A major benefit from the competition system is the improvement gained from pre-contest practice to produce the best we can as a team.

Mr Ross Campbell