Jim Pearson, a member of the Vintage Pipes and Drums reflects on the group’s long history as members accept the time has come to retire…
A WELL-KNOWN local pipe band has closed its practices after more than 30 years.
The band was formed in about 1990 as The Teesdale Pipes & Drums and met twice weekly at The Witham Hall. It was led by Barry Waldron of Staindrop as Pipe Major.
The band encouraged parents and children to join and many have over the years, taking part in learning and playing the instruments.
Pipers and drummers were attracted to join from farther afield like Stockton, Middlesbrough, and Guisborough. They willingly travelled through to become part of the Teesdale Pipes & Drums which took part in many village carnivals and events from Darlington to Middleton-in-Teesdale.
The sound of the pipes and drums was heard in Cotherstone, Copley, Mickleton, Romaldkirk, Forest in Teesdale, Shildon, Staindrop and Bishop Auckland.
Following sponsorship from Richmond Town Council, the band took the name Richmond Town Pipes & Drums. There was a short term fracture within the band and a splinter group formed the Rowan Pipe Band who raised funds to acquire full highland dress with Plaids, Spats and feather bonnets.
However, the group came back together and continued to function under both titles, the Richmond Town Pipes using the Royal Stewart tartan and the Rowan Pipes played wearing the Ancient Colquhoun tartan.
The band’s repertoire numbered more than 100 tunes as it marched at the lead of many events in Richmond, Leyburn, Catterick, Hawes, Grosmont and Pickering.
The band also took part in the Weekend Wartime Re-enactments around the area. On several occasions the band took part in the Durham Miners’ Gala, where they led the Chilton Lodge Banner. The annual memorial service for those RAF crew who lost their lives in the area was held in Deerbolt, the parade before Lord Barnard, was led by the Pipes & Drums until its closure.
Like all bands, the members changed as youngsters grew up and followed other pursuits amid changed adult circumstances.
Fortunately a hard core of band regulars held the group together – at the heart was the constant attendance and leadership of Pipe Major Barry Waldron.
His technical knowledge of the pipes kept ageing and struggling pipers blowing for many years.
The Pipers and Drummer eventually provided their own uniforms and instruments.
The band continued its weekly practices in Winston Village Hall., but time takes its toll. Ageing and health problems of members reduced the ability to march through the streets while piping and drumming.
In 2010 a smaller group of older band members used the name The Vintage Pipes & Drums, playing at the RAF memorial service now held in Galgate in Barnard Castle.
The band has now reached the end of its run – the oldest piper is 95 years old with several being octogenarians, the youngest reaching 74 years.
Those few members who are still active continue to meet once a week for a piping session in Whorlton to keep the tunes fresh and members amused as they recount past events and incidents from our long musical past.
