Glengarry Highlanders Pipe Band
From Glengarryceltic
At the annual meeting Sept. 3rd, 1954 the President John W. MacLeod presented the motion, changed to include all young pipers and drummers and not restricted to members of the MacLeod Clan. The motion was moved by John D. MacLeod and seconded by Neilena MacRae. The committee sent applications to R.D. MacLeod at Laggan and by Dec. 16th, twenty-two applications and ten for drumming lessons were received. Pipe Major Steve MacKinnon was engaged to conduct classes in the Alexandria Armories and piper Connie (Kippen) Blaney was to teach in the Maxville Community Hall. Piping lessons got underway on Jan.28th 1955.
At the annual meeting Nov 16th, 1955, the Piping and Drumming committee reported that 18 lessons had been given and the piping students were now continuing on their own with piper Connie (Kippen) Blaney as their instructor. Prior to and including the Highland Games of 1960, the Highland Games Committee lacking a local band hired one to act as host band. Duties included meeting the special trains from Montreal and Ottawa to welcome and escort the many visitors and bands who traveled by train at that time. They were also to meet and escort dignitaries to the opening ceremonies. The arrangement had never been completely satisfactory and the 1960 Games were no exception. At that time the Clan MacLeod had $100.00 left in their account for paying for piping lessons. At an executive meeting September 5th, 1960 John D. MacLeod presented a proposal for discussion “that the $100.00 would be offered to the Highland Games executive for the specific purpose of training local pipers and drummers that would ultimately be combined into a duty band for use at the Highland Games”. The motion was also passed at the annual meeting and present their proposal. Prior to the meeting, John D. visited Dr. Don Gamble, president of the Highland Games at that time and received a favourable response. On Oct. 21st, 1960, they were at the meeting and informed the Highland Games executive they felt the need for a pipe band in the area was great and that Clan MacLeod would donate $100.00 towards starting one. The motion was moved by Osie Villeneuve and seconded by Clarence MacGregor that the Highland Games Committee would match the $100.00 offered by the Clan MacLeod. The motion was carried. Thus the birth of the Glengarry Highlanders Pipe Band took place. President Dr. Don Gamble lost no time in getting organized. The first need was a committee which was promptly appointed.
- President: John D. MacLeod
- Secretary Treas: John Jameson
- Directors: Dr. D. Gamble, Gordon MacLeod, Norman MacLeod
The first two steps were to train drummers and to secure funds. By Feb. 16, 1961, the band had a name and a class had been started for drumming students. Arrangements were made with George Shaver of Cornwall to come to Maxville on Saturday mornings to the Community Hall.
At this time the committee contacted the Department of National Defence about surplus drums. Col. J.W. Franklin was very helpful. In April, nine snare drums, two tenor and one base were purchased through the War Assets Corporation. The drums were stored in the Armories somewhere in Coburg, Ontario and Arnold Munro gave Ronnie Clare and Jimmie MacLeod his truck to get the drums and bring them to Maxville.
On Feb. 18th, 1961 a meeting was held in the Curling Club. The pipe band committee and all interested pipers chose Gordon Kippen as Pipe Major for the band. A target date of Maxville Fair in June was set as a place and time when the new band would make their first appearance. At their first practice on Feb. 25th, at the Curling Club all interested pipers were invited to attend. Pipers of all ages came along. There were older pipers like Willie Munro and Donald Kippen. They had played pipes for many years with the S.D.&G Pipe Band and had much experience. They were generous with their time and help and did much to help the pipe major to organize his band. Several were teenagers who had taken lessons from Connie (Kippen) Blaney and were enthusiastic about joining the pipe band. There were others who had learned the art of piping from Angus Katie McDonald, Steve McKinnon or George Montgomery, but all had one thing in common and that was the desire to play with the Glengarry Highlanders Pipe Band and make it a success. On March 18th, 1961 at a meeting of the committee it was decided that Glengarry’s own band was a going concern and the next step was to equip a twenty piece band of twelve pipers and eight drummers. It was decided to set $5000.00 as a goal and ask the public for donations.
At that meeting it was decided that the band would wear the McDonell of Glengarry tartan subject to permission of the S.D.and G Highlanders Pipe Band who wore the plaid.
