50 Years and Counting
The band’s beginnings took the form of a chanter/piping class in the Bowmar Community Centre, Alloa, in 1973, under the auspices of Gordon Simpson (to the right of base drum). Gordon was later to be assisted in teaching by Dick Owen.
By 1975, with enough learners on the pipes and drums, Gordon and Dick decided that a pipe band could be formed. So, with Gordon as Pipe Major and Dick as Pipe Sergeant, the band was up and running and the name of “Alloa Bowmar Pipe Band” was adopted.
Gordon remained the Pipe Major for a number of years being succeeded by Dick, who in turn was succeeded by David Russell, who has recently handed over the baton to Campbell Macintyre, our current Pipe Major. Four Pipe Majors in 50 years is a testament to the commitment of band members.
The pipe band has always been grounded in the community; supporting local residents to come together, learn music and celebrate Scottish culture. From small beginnings in the Bowmar Community Centre, Gordon built the band up gradually teaching pipe music, with many wives, husbands and family members roped in to support charity events and fundraising activity to buy equipment and uniforms. The band initially competed and used this as a way to develop and improve, but local events and galas have always been important to the band, in part as a way to pay back to the community that the band is drawn from.
From small beginnings the band grew in size, and in the range of bookings that the band attended, creating links and partnerships with the Dutch Pipes and Drum band with exchange visits and many bookings in Germany, France, Northern Spain, Egypt, New York for the Tartan Day parade and more recently an engagement in the United Arab Emirates for the 50th anniversary of the Ajman Police Force.
But throughout this time the pipe band have continued to prioritise local bookings and local events. Everything from the Alloa Remembrance Day Parade, switching on the Christmas lights in Alloa to local gala / fayre days (the Boness Fayre, Linlithgow Marches, Carronshore, Steelend, Tillicoultry and Menstrie gala days to name a few). The band has also played at the famous Alva Highland Games for the past 30 years, one that the band always look forward to. But supporting local charities has also been an important element of the band’s philosophy and they have therefore played regularly for her Royal Highness Princess Anne when she visits Strathcarron Hospice where one year they were joined by their former base drummer Jonny Walker who was receiving treatment there and played with one last time.
The band have a strong relationship with the local college, which is now Forth Valley, and as well as playing at their graduation ceremonies, practise in the college campus every week, using the large gym to carry out drill and play as a full band.
Like many bands, the pandemic was difficult as restrictions meant band members couldn’t come together to practise and there was only so much that could be done over zoom. Unfortunately, the band numbers reduced, but there are still around 20
playing members and a steady stream of learners working on the chanter and the drum pad. There are few bands that have survived for 50 years, so this is an important milestone for the Alloa Bowmar Pipe Band and from those small beginnings and the vision of Pipe Major Gordon Simpson it remains the heart of the Clacks community.
