Caithness Junior Pipe Band is absolutely delighted with a 3 year sponsorship deal offered by Scrabster Harbour Trust which will amount to a total of £2,250.  This is in recognition of the Band’s excellent performances for visiting cruise ships.

Harbour Master, Gordon Mackenzie stated “We are delighted with the assistance which we get from the Pipe Band in ensuring that cruise ship passengers get a real taste of Scottish culture, especially from young folk.

The Band’s quayside performances have been enthusiastically received by cruise visitors.  The Trust has received numerous letters of appreciation from visitors, many of whom have regarded the display as their highlight of their visit to Caithness.  The popularity of the Band was well illustrated at the departure of the Royal Princess last September. 

The majority of the vessel’s 700 passengers lined the side of the ship cheering and waving in appreciation of the Band’s send off.

The Trust recognizes the time and effort put in by the Band, their tutors and parents in assisting us.  We understand that the Band has an exciting programme of activities for the year ahead, including further performances at Scrabster.  We are delighted to be associated with Caithness Junior Pipe Band and look forward to a long, successful relationship”.

Scrabster had 6 visits from cruise ships during 2008 with booking of 10 ships with a total in excess of 3,000 passengers for 2009.

Caithness Junior Pipe have had one of their busiest years yet. Band members have increased by four pipers and two drummers. Two members left during the course of the year but are to continue with Thurso Pipe Band.

The band continued to establish an excellent reputation throughout the county - they have continued to appear at Galas, Shows, Games, the local Country & Western Festival, Harbour fests, Fairs and have entertained Cruise Liners arriving at Scrabster.

The decision to compete at major events added a great dimension to practice and discipline.  Tremendous effort and dedication were required and the band responded well. They took part in the European Championships in Inverness in July and in the World Piping Championships in Glasgow in August.  Both events were marred by very bad weather but both band and tutors learned a great deal from the experience.

Scrabster Harbour Fayre saw the band's first public appearance of the 2006 season. It was also the first appearance for a number of the bands new members, three pipers and three drummers, making the band bigger than it has ever been. Make sure you come along and see the band sometime this summer. A full list of our engagements is published in our Coming Events page.

Caithness Junior Pipe Band celebrated their formation 5 years ago by attending Pipefest.  Although many of the original members have now left, the Band under Pipe Major Andrew Harvey, has gone from strength to strength and 16 members – 11 pipers and 5 drummers travelled to the capital last weekend to take part in this 10^th anniversary fund raiser for Marie Curie.   They were accompanied by their President and piping tutor Kevin Gunn.   Members of the Band come from all over the county and have had a busy year.  They have played at shows in Canisbay, Latheron, Lybster Gala, Caithness Arts Ceilidh in Wick and Taste of Tartan Ceilidh in Thurso and were introduced to Prince Charles after playing for the gathering at Mey Games. 

On Saturday 20^th the band travelled south to Methil Sea Cadet Hall, Leven, who kindly provided our accommodation. That evening the Band entertained the Sea Cadets Chairperson and family, they then had a disco and impromptu ceilidh dance.  Sunday 21^st saw the Band travel to Edinburgh where they assembled below Arthur’s Seat and marched with another 10,000 bandsmen and women to Holyrood.  Everyone present, including the many parents and friends, thoroughly enjoyed the mass gathering.  The sun shone and everything was timed to the last detail.  Caithness Junior Pipe Band, along with over 500 other Pipe Bands and hundreds of individual pipers and drummers from all over the world, paraded past the Scottish parliament and eventually massed at Holyrood to perform a rousing set of tunes in an emotional finale played by 10000 musicians – all at once! 

Thousands of spectators enjoyed the colourful spectacle – an extravaganza of traditional music. Caithness Junior Pipe Band are greatly indebted to Halkirk Highland Games, Mey Games and Thurso Coastguards for their financial assistance. The trip would not have been possible without the tremendous contribution from Rapsons Coaches Ltd. who provided free transport and Methil Sea Cadets who provided us with free accommodation and warm hospitality. 

After meeting and marching with Bands from all over the world members joined the Wick Pipe Band to have a very late supper in Inverness before wending their way home to Caithness early on Monday morning.  

The only ironic fact was that the Band’s Committee had raised nearly £2,000 towards the cost of providing kilt jackets for members. The jackets were received just in time for our trip and everyone looked the part. However it was too hot on the day to contemplate wearing them! Not a problem we would have encountered in Caithness!!!!