Jim (80) contacted us by email a while ago and sent me a few emails….
I just found out about this site and as an ex member from back in the ’50s thought I would investigate.
My first contest was I think, at Neilston in 1952 when I was 11 years old.
I was with the band during the ‘Glory Years’ when we were winning just about everything, but left when still a teenager and ended up in the Royal Marines.
I used to get tramcar from Cambuslang to Whiteinch for band practice.
Fond memories, Jim
Hi, here as promised a potted personal history from when I left 214.
As a young teenager I started to find other things more interesting and
gradually left the world of piping to follow other pursuits, like ice hockey
and dancing.
My family had moved from Cambuslang to East Kilbride which made it more
difficult for travelling to Whiteinch anyway.
At around late 1957/ early ’58 I had joined the TA and it wasn’t long
before I got roped in to their Pipe Band.
On our annual camp at Weymouth in 1958 we got to join the Royal Marines
band to play the USS Nautilus into harbour after its return from its trip
under the polar icecap.
The idea was that the two bands would take turns and as luck would have it
we were actually playing when the sub appeared. Our pipe major decided to
keep us playing instead of stopping and letting the marines play so we
played it into the harbour much to the annoyance of the Marines.
Ironically I ended up in the Royal Marines before the year was out.
All the band members were invited on board the Sub as we were from
Motherwell and coincidentally the captain was named Anderson and he hailed
from Motherwell so it came about that we were shown all over the world’s
first nuclear submarine.
ps. Not 100% sure but I think we were playing the Black Bear which was our
regular marching tune.
Right then, just thought that might be of some interest.
Jim
Memories, now there’s a thing. Apart from marching down the road from Cowal
and other places with the trophies won being carried at the front I think
my fondest memories would be when at practice sessions at Alex McIver’s
home in Danes Drive his sister would bring out a large pile of
sandwiches/cakes etc. and I was always given more as ‘Wee Jimmy needs
feeding up’. i wasn’t really undernourished but I was the youngest and
smallest.
Also, I have fond memories of Alex Ibell, who would always be at competitions. With his big tea urn, which made it almost a picnic outing as well as a
competition.
Jim