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The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band is delighted to announce the appointment of current band member Gavin Walker to the post of Pipe Major with effect from Thursday 5 August, 2010.

The appointment comes as the band's long serving Pipe Major Robert Mathieson announced his retirement from the position after 24 successful years in post.

In a letter read out to the band's members by Robert, he stated "I feel the current team in place are in a position to continue running the band without causing any disruption in moving forward. In the short term I would like to continue as a player within the ranks or even perhaps play a minor role with the key players or management of band in the future. I would however take a back seat and distance myself during the start of the winter schedule to allow my successor total clearance to run the band in their own style. I am fully aware that all of this is easier said than done but I do think the transitional period can be carried out in such a way that the band enjoys continuity and develops further in the coming months and years."

He continued "I feel the hand over could be done over the next two contests to allow my successor to hit the ground running when the band is fully operating allowing him to pre-plan winter practices... I am looking forward to competing at the Worlds and hopeful that we can deliver top performances. I have had long talks with Jim and I am happy to report that he will be staying in the band to work with the newly appointed pipe major. I hope all members will endorse that full support."

During his tenure as Pipe Major, Robert led the band to win 5 Scottish, 9 British, 6 European, 5 Cowal, 5 World Championships and 9 Champion of Champions titles. In Robert's own words "what more could a PM ask for?"

Pipe Major Gavin Walker joined the band in 2010 from Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, where he has previously served as Pipe Sergeant. Gavin has impressed everyone in the band since joining and has the unanimous support of the band's rank and file, as does Robert in remaining in the band's pipe corps.

Gavin and a team from within the current pipe corps are now working together and looking forward to continuing Robert's exemplary leadership of the band.

The band's members are sincerely grateful to Robert for his contribution to the band over the years and wish him well.

Gavin will lead the band in competition for the first time in the March, Strathspey & Reel performance at the World Pipe Band Championships next week and Robert will give the 'By the right' command for the last time in the Medley performance, before joining the ranks of the pipe corps.

Don't miss the band during Worlds Week in Glasgow.

Attachments:
Read Robert Mathieson's letter to the band members

Associated Press:
College of Piping Editor's Blog
pipes | drums

Cloudless skies, hot temperatures, ice cream, paddling... all things we don't usually associate with the first major pipe band championship of the calendar, but they were all there in abundance as The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band competed at the Scottish Pipe Band Championships at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton on Saturday 22 May, 2010.

The band performed first in Grade 1 to a large audience there to hear and see the best pipe bands new medleys. Breaking new ground for the band, the drum corps competed for the first time with a dual bass drums, consisting of two bass drums tuned and played independently.

The band retained 3rd place overall, while the drum corps were delighted with their first in drumming, Jim Kilpatrick's 10th Scottish Championship title with the corps.

The band will be competing next at the British Pipe Band Championships in Annan on Saturday 26 June, 2010.
 

To mark our centenary, we have created a new, special edition, The House Of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band Centenary tie.

To make these ties even more special, there will only be 100 available for sale representing each of the band's 100 years, so act now and get your piece of Shotts history from our official Centenary Online Store while they are still available.
 

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band made its first competition appearance of 2010 as one of seven invited bands at the Lomond & Clyde Pipe Band 10th Anniversary Invitational Indoor Competition on Saturday 20 March, 2010.

The band took first prize of £2,500, beating three other finalists from earlier qualifying heats in a four-way play-off of both March, Strathspey & Reel and Medley performances. The prize pot is the biggest known to have been awarded to a pipe band in the UK competition under RSPBA rules.

The competition was held in the comfortable surroundings of Glasgow's Radisson Blu hotel. A large audience attended and the general feeling amongst competitors and spectators alike was that the event was a great success.

The band fielded many of its new pipers and drummers in the competition, which has been great preparation for what lies ahead in the upcoming outdoor season.

For those who were unable to attend the event, the performances of every band will be available for download from Lomond & Clyde website from 24 March, 2010.

The band would like to extend its thanks to everyone in Lomond & Clyde Pipe Band for including us in their fantastic event.

Radio 3's flagship classical music magazine programme 'Music Matters' will feature The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band in a broadcast to be aired on Saturday 6 March, 2010.

The weekly programme presents topical in-depth interviews, features and discussions on the big ideas driving today's music world. The show produced a special Scotland Week episode and took particular interest in how the Great Highland Bagpipe has helped identify the nation.

The band's practice session was recorded and a number of band members were interviewed for the show.

You can find out more about the show at the Music Matters micro site.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band will take to the stage for a short concert at the College of Piping in Glasgow to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the venue.

The concert is to be held on Saturday 30 January, 2010 and is a sell-out. Joining the Shotts band for the celebrations will be the newly promoted Inveraray & District Pipe Band and their Pipe Major, Stuart Liddell.

The band looks forward to performing in the college for the first time since its renovation and would like to thank the College for extending their invitation for the band to perform.

The World Solo Drumming Championships took place in Glasgow Caledonian University on Saturday 24 October, 2009 in front of a busy audience of keen pipe band drumming enthusiasts.

The majority of the Shotts drum corps participated in the event and various levels, including 16 Years & Under, 18 Years & Under and Adult. It was in the junior events that the band's drummers were to fair best, with Grant Cassidy taking first place overall to Steven Shedden. Both tied for first place and had to be separated by an Adjudicator Preference, with Grant emerging as winner of his fourth world title as many years.

Tenor drummer Neil Bruce competed in the 18 Years & Under section and took third spot with a 1st, two 2nd and a 12th place from the four adjudicators.

In the Adult section, both Jim Kilpatrick MBE and Jake Jørgensen qualified for the final, but missed out on the prizes.

Many congratulations to Grant, Steven & Neil on their well deserved prizes.

Tenor drummer Fiona Dunsmore became Mrs Fiona Wilson at a surprise wedding ceremony in Shotts on Saturday 5 September, 2009.

Fiona wed former Shotts snare drummer Colin Wilson, who is currently playing with the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band. Fiona and her twin sister Lynne lured guests to Shotts Bon Accord Social Club to what was thought to be their joint 30th birthday party. Guests were stunned when Fiona and Colin entered the hall accompanied by their bridal party to tie the knot.

Many, many congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs Wilson from everyone of your friends in the Shotts band.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band rounded off the 2009 season with a 3rd place at the Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon on Saturday 29 August, 2009.

Making the day a special one for the band, the drum corps won an 18th Champion of Champions title in 21 years when they secured first place in drumming.

Also getting in on the prize list was the band's new Drum Major, David Currie, who won 4th place in the Adult Drum Major competition, securing the first top 6 placing of his career at a major championship.

For the first time in 20 years, the band was delighted to welcome a McAllister back to its ranks. Greg McAllister débuted almost two decades to the day after his father Ewan last played with the band in 1989. Greg's instrument was the bagpipe played by his great grandfather Pipe Major Tom McAllister Snr. who was the first of four generations of the family to play with the band.

Congratulations to everyone in the band for a fine days' performance and thank you to all of the friends, family and supporters who followed the band throughout the 2009 competition season.

The band will now start preparations in earnest for the 2010 season, which marks the band's centenary year. We look forward to celebrating our 100 years of existence with you next summer.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band secured 5th place at this year's World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow on Saturday 15 August, 2009.

Constantly changing weather presented challenging conditions for every band in their preparations for the two-legged final.

The Shotts drum corps won the Medley leg and took second place in the March, Strathspey & Reel, but were pipped for the overall Best Drum Corps award on a preference by Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, who won the overall award.

The band will spend the next two weeks preparing for the final major championship of the 2009 season in Dunoon. We hope to see you there.

Sun drenched the Clyde coast of Inverclyde, where the European Pipe Band Championships was held on Saturday 25 July, 2009.

Rolling their sleeves up for a hard day of work in the heat, the Shotts band prepared well and performed an excellent medley selection to a large audience at the Grade 1 arena to take a solid third place overall.

The hard work doesn't stop here for the band. With the World Pipe Band Championships just around the corner, a hectic schedule of practices lies ahead of the biggest day in the pipe band calendar.

The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band played first out of the starting blocks on a balmy day at the British Pipe Band Championships in Banbridge, Northern Ireland on Saturday 27 June, 2009.

The band played their new 'Highland Swing' medley to an appreciative Ulster audience and finished the Grade 1 competition as both runners-up in the band and drum corps awards.

You can take in the Shotts performance on YouTube.

Another medley championship is just around the corner, this time at Inverclyde on 25 July, 2009. The band members look forward to seeing you there!

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