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Band History

When a few pipers and drummers from the Volunteer pipe band, later known as the Territorial Army Band, got together in 1913, Thurso Pipe Band was born. The driving force behind this initiative was Alex Mackay of the St Clair Hotel in Thurso who went onto become the bands first Pipe Major. In those early days the Band had little in the way of funds to kit out it’s members and had to rely on public contributions to scrape together sufficient funds to purchase ex-Army kilts and jackets. The kilts were Mackenzie tartan and the Band has retained this tartan throughout its 80 years history. To ensure that the band looked as good as they sounded the Khaki tunics were dyed black. The early years proved to be very successful but when war broke out in 1914 a number of the members were called up for active service. However, those that remained kept the band alive throughout the war years.

First Recorded Photo of the Band Taken in 1920

In 1918 Donald Swanson took over as Pipe Major. A few years later the band had sufficient funds to purchase their first uniform. They retained the Mackenzie tartan and had black tunics for the pipers and drummers. The drummers wore Glengarries whilst the pipers wore Glengarries with blackcock feathers. Belt buckles, sporran tops and broaches of a matching design provided the finishing touches. The first mace was hand-made by Willie Coghill, a drum Major in the band. It was made from a paperweight depicting a stag’s head, a leg of a chair and a broom handle, by all accounts it looked like the real thing.

When John Macdonald of Achnavast took over as pipe major in 1923 it started an unbroken 71 years reign of the same Macdonald family holding the post of Pipe Major. In fact the family connection with the band goes back even further, John’s cousin Charlie joined the band as a piper in 1916. John continued as pipe major until 1938. Another successful public appeal for funding to purchase new uniforms was made in 1935. The new uniforms were worn for the first time at the Pipe Band Ball held in the Territorial Army Hall in Sinclair Street, at one time the highlight of Thurso’s social calendar.

In 1938 John handed over the reigns to his brother Peter who continued as pipe Major until 1965, apart from the Second World War when the band was disbanded. The band practised and stored their equipment in the Town Hall, contrary to many beliefs the Band room was not named after the pipe band but after the local brass band that also practised there. Unfortunately, a fire in the Town Hall resulted in the equipment and the uniforms being destroyed much to the disappointment of the band members.

When the Band reformed after the war in 1947 another public appeal was made to replace the equipment lost in the fire. The total cost of kitting out the Band at that time is believed to be around £800, just enough to kit out one member today. At the end of the war, A Canadian Band disbanded and sold their drums to Potters of Aldershot thus allowing the Thurso Band to purchase them second-hand. A Mrs Laurie gifted the first set of leopard skins worn by the band after she emigrated back to South Africa.

During the 1950’s the drummers changed their headgear from the Glengarries to feathered bonnets and green hackles and they still wear them to this day. After 1947, under the leadership of Peter MacDonald, the band competed in championships with a fair degree of success. They were crowned champions at the inaugural event of the North of Scotland Pipe Band Championships held in Inverness. On the same occasion Drum Major Robert Hood won the Drum Major contest. The Band had many successes at the Dornoch Games, winning first prize on many occasions. The Invergordon Games attracted all of the top bands in the north of Scotland and it is some measure of their ability when the records show that the Thurso Band took the honours on seven occasions.

Pictured from Left, John, Peter, Robert and Sandy MacDonald

From 1965 to 1967 Robbie MacDonald succeeded his cousin Peter as pipe major. After just two years with the band Robbie joined the Invergordon Pipe Band that went onto win the European, British and Scottish Pipe Band Championships under Pipe Major Donald Shaw-Ramsay. Robbie’s departure to Invergordon in 1967 gave his brother Sandy the opportunity to continue the MacDonald reign as Pipe Major of the Thurso band. The band continued to take part in major championships and competed regularly at the World Championships and the renowned Cowel Games. Sandy finally retired in 1994 bringing to an end the long MacDonald family connection with the band, spanning over 70 years.

In 1994 the Pipe Major’s role was taken over by Stuart Webster, which he held till 1997. In 1997 he was succeeded by Kevin Gunn who is the current Pipe Major to this day. The band continues to flourish under Kevin’s leadership playing in the town centre during the summer months. This proves very popular with tourists and the general public. The band also play at Highland games throughout the North of Scotland and provid their services free of charge for a number of charity events.

If you have any information or old photographs associated with the history of the Pipe Band we would be very interested in hearing from you. Please contact the band Secretary.

Established 1913
	Band History When a few pipers and drummers from the Volunteer pipe band, later known as the Territorial Army Band, got together in 1913, Thurso Pipe Band was born. The driving force behind this initiative was Alex Mackay of the St Clair Hotel in Thurso who went onto become the bands first Pipe Major. In those early days the Band had little in the way of funds to kit out it’s members and had to rely on public contributions to scrape together sufficient funds to purchase ex-Army kilts and jackets. The kilts were Mackenzie tartan and the Band has retained this tartan throughout its 80 years history. To ensure that the band looked as good as they sounded the Khaki tunics were dyed black. The early years proved to be very successful but when war broke out in 1914 a number of the members were called up for active service. However, those that remained kept the band alive throughout the war years. First Recorded Photo of the Band Taken in 1920 In 1918 Donald Swanson took over as Pipe Major. A few years later the band had sufficient funds to purchase their first uniform. They retained the Mackenzie tartan and had black tunics for the pipers and drummers. The drummers wore Glengarries whilst the pipers wore Glengarries with blackcock feathers. Belt buckles, sporran tops and broaches of a matching design provided the finishing touches. The first mace was hand-made by Willie Coghill, a drum Major in the band. It was made from a paperweight depicting a stag’s head, a leg of a chair and a broom handle, by all accounts it looked like the real thing. When John Macdonald of Achnavast took over as pipe major in 1923 it started an unbroken 71 years reign of the same Macdonald family holding the post of Pipe Major. In fact the family connection with the band goes back even further, John’s cousin Charlie joined the band as a piper in 1916. John continued as pipe major until 1938. Another successful public appeal for funding to purchase new uniforms was made in 1935. The new uniforms were worn for the first time at the Pipe Band Ball held in the Territorial Army Hall in Sinclair Street, at one time the highlight of Thurso’s social calendar. In 1938 John handed over the reigns to his brother Peter who continued as pipe Major until 1965, apart from the Second World War when the band was disbanded. The band practised and stored their equipment in the Town Hall, contrary to many beliefs the Band room was not named after the pipe band but after the local brass band that also practised there. Unfortunately, a fire in the Town Hall resulted in the equipment and the uniforms being destroyed much to the disappointment of the band members. When the Band reformed after the war in 1947 another public appeal was made to replace the equipment lost in the fire. The total cost of kitting out the Band at that time is believed to be around £800, just enough to kit out one member today. At the end of the war, A Canadian Band disbanded and sold their drums to Potters of Aldershot thus allowing the Thurso Band to purchase them second-hand. A Mrs Laurie gifted the first set of leopard skins worn by the band after she emigrated back to South Africa. During the 1950’s the drummers changed their headgear from the Glengarries to feathered bonnets and green hackles and they still wear them to this day. After 1947, under the leadership of Peter MacDonald, the band competed in championships with a fair degree of success. They were crowned champions at the inaugural event of the North of Scotland Pipe Band Championships held in Inverness. On the same occasion Drum Major Robert Hood won the Drum Major contest. The Band had many successes at the Dornoch Games, winning first prize on many occasions. The Invergordon Games attracted all of the top bands in the north of Scotland and it is some measure of their ability when the records show that the Thurso Band took the honours on seven occasions. Pictured from Left, John, Peter, Robert and Sandy MacDonald From 1965 to 1967 Robbie MacDonald succeeded his cousin Peter as pipe major. After just two years with the band Robbie joined the Invergordon Pipe Band that went onto win the European, British and Scottish Pipe Band Championships under Pipe Major Donald Shaw-Ramsay. Robbie’s departure to Invergordon in 1967 gave his brother Sandy the opportunity to continue the MacDonald reign as Pipe Major of the Thurso band. The band continued to take part in major championships and competed regularly at the World Championships and the renowned Cowel Games. Sandy finally retired in 1994 bringing to an end the long MacDonald family connection with the band, spanning over 70 years. In 1994 the Pipe Major’s role was taken over by Stuart Webster, which he held till 1997. In 1997 he was succeeded by Kevin Gunn who is the current Pipe Major to this day. The band continues to flourish under Kevin’s leadership playing in the town centre during the summer months. This proves very popular with tourists and the general public. The band also play at Highland games throughout the North of Scotland and provid their services free of charge for a number of charity events. If you have any information or old photographs associated with the history of the Pipe Band we would be very interested in hearing from you. Please contact the band Secretary.