Quick March

One time at band camp… If you’ve seen the movie you know the rest. But do you have any idea what goes on at bagpipe band camp? Below is some advice passed on from our own Fay King that she picked up from one of her many trips to The North American Academy of Piping and Drumming.

Make sure you keep your blow sticks, pipes & practice chanters clean….especially after being sick. Sandy Jones pointed out at NAAPD this summer that it’s important not to reinfect yourself after an illness by playing dirty pipes. He had some issues with the Cadet Corps at the Citadel getting sick over and over. He finally figured it was the germy blowsticks & pipes. Our own Pipe Major chimed in with this tip. Make sure you open your bags up and let them completely dry out after playing it helps keep the moisture down and kill off germs.

Fay thinks she being a bit of a Mom on this one but other than being a kick butt piper its what she does besides it’s some good advice. For those of you who don’t know about NAAPD check out there site above. They have summer camp sessions that are really awesome. Fay goes regularly as does Dennis, and Robin has been numerous times as well. I’ve been and can speak to it’s awesomeness. You get instruction from world class pipers and at least two concerts a day from them. Not to mention the setting in the mountains of North Carolina. Well worth it.

So keep those blow sticks clean and stay well this coming season. And don’t be afraid or snicker the next time you hear “One time at bagpipe band camp….”

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I just want to thank all of you of the St. Andrew’s Legion and the staff at State Fair of Virginia who made this years Highland Games & Celtic Festival a great success! We had 99% attendance of the band and I appreciate everyone’s team effort to show the public and attendees the best performances and show of professionalism our pipe band can deliver. This particular festival is always so anticipated with enthusiasm, but at the same time saddening in a way, for it marks the end of the Highland Games/Festival season each year, but we still have a bunch of other events until December.

We even have picked up a few new recruits that will start flowing in to practice over the next several weeks, we have our work cut out for us to bring them into the fold. Congratulations to our own Don Raybould who took 2nd place in the Drum Major’s Competition, and to our shared members who also play with Great Richmond Pipes & Drums that took 1st place in Grade 3 and 3rd in Grade 5.

Thank you to our officers who were always attentive to the needs of our members and to the staff of the Festival. Thanks, also goes out to our sponsors such as MacLaren Jewelers and Capstone Insurance, along with the families and support folks who do so much to help us behind the scenes. Without you, this band wouldn’t exist. I think Chris Fox should receive an award for dedication! Any guy who will drive all the way from upstate New York to play with us, deserves special mention.

It was a pleasure to have Albemarle Pipes & Drums with us on Saturday to merge in playing with us on circle ups. The combined group looked and sounded like a powerhouse out there. The crowds that immediately gathered upon the first strike ins, were impressive. Mark Chapman is doing a fine job and we look forward to working and playing with APD again in the future. You just never know what sort of impact your art will have on people. I remember playing my pipes years ago for the Charlottesville Fire Department and I met a young female firefighter who was just entranced with the Pipes. This weekend she was one of the APD folks playing right beside you. So always know this, you may be just doing what you normally do, but you are always planting seeds in the minds and hearts of those you come in contact with.

Last, I want to thank Mr. Roberts and Miss Ross of the State Fair of Virginia, who along with the rest of their staff, who do such an outstanding job of running, managing, and putting one of the top largest Celtic Festivals on the entire Eastern United States and largest in Virginia.

To everyone- Great Job!!

Aye, Tim Batten MacLeod, President of St. Andrew’s Legion Pipes & Drums

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