FORCE BACKGROUND

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary is the smallest police force on the British mainland and services the needs of the community in Southwest Scotland. The force celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1998. It is also the oldest force in Scotland, having been formed when the old Kirkcudbrightshire, Wigtownshire and Dumfriesshire forces amalgamated in 1948, escaping reorganisation, unlike other forces, in 1975.

The force patrols 2,469 square miles in area - a population of approximately 147,900. Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary has a force strength of 480 Police Officers.

BAND FOUNDATIONS

On 2nd March 1991 a group of serving officers held a meeting in the force's training department at Newall Terrace, Dumfries, with a view to forming a small pipe band - the first in the force's history. Constable Callum Watson was elected Pipe Major and Sergeant George Graham and Constable Donald Walker were elected Pipe Sergeant and Leading Drummer respectively. The band also chose their tartan which was to be the Modern Douglas, due to strong local links.

1991

The band grew very quickly and on 3^rd May 1991, turned out to play at its first public performance at Burnfoot Hall, a residential home for the elderly in Ecclefechan, near Lockerbie, with six pipers, one snare drummer, a bass drummer and a tenor drummer. In total, the band attended 26 events in its first year. In October 1991 they were graded by the RSPBA as grade 4, ready for the 1992 competition season.

1992

The band competed for the first time in May 1992. That same year, they were placed 6th at the Scottish Championships in Inverness and qualified for the final at the World Championships.

1993

In the 1993 season the band were placed 4th in the European and Scottish Championships, 6th at Cowal and qualified for the final at the Worlds. These and the previous years results had been achieved by a band consisting of 16 serving officers, from a total Force strength at that time of 386.

At the bands AGM in October 1993 a suggestion was put to the serving Chief Constable, Mr George Esson (now retired) that he allow civilian members to join the ranks. The argument was that the band had gone as far as it could with the current membership. Mr Esson agreed and an extra four pipers and two drummers joined the band in October 1993.

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1994

In the 1994 season the band were Grade 4 World, European and British Champions and runners-up in the Cowal and Scottish Championships. These results were enough to secure the Grade 4 Champion of Champions titles in both the band contest and drumming. In October 1994 the band was upgraded to Grade 3 by the RSPBA and they also recruited Jamie Green to the band as the new Leading Drummer.

1995

In the 1995 season the band were Cowal Champions, runners-up in the British Championships, third in the European Championships and fourth in the Scottish. Although the band played well in the qualifying round of the Worlds that year and qualified for the final, they were unfortunately, well out of the prize list. However, the season's results were once again good enough to see the band upgraded and they were promoted to Grade 2 in October 1995 as Champion of Champions.

1996

The 1996 season was, as expected, very hard going, the best result being 7th at the last major contest of the year in Giffnock.

At the end of the 1996 season the band lost its Pipe Sergeant, Inspector George Graham, who left to concentrate on his career (the plan must have worked - he's a Superintendent now). They also lost another two pipers and two drummers, including their ex-leading drummer, Alan Barron, who had led the drum corps to the Grade 4 Champion of Champions title.

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1997

In 1997, the band had a very indifferent season. There were high points though, with the bands first oversees trip, a visit to Tonsberg in Norway as part of a British week, and the recruiting of Norrie Thomson to our drum corps as a corps player. Norrie had been out of pipe band drumming for around 5 years, having left the Grade 1 Annan Ex-Servicemens Club band at the end of 1992.

1998

The 1998 season saw the band win the Grade 2 Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway Branch Championships for the second year running but unfortunately performances at the major championships were disappointing and the results reflected this. However, the drum corps received a boost with the appointment of Norrie Thomson to Leading Drummer at the end of the season.

1999

The 1999 season was up and down, the best performances by far were at the All England Championships at Richmond where they were placed first, and at Annan Riding of the Marches where they won both the Grade 2 and Grade 1 contest as well as the best drum corps prize in Grade 2.

2000

The year 2000 went well. The band had a boost in numbers with several players joining from the now disbanded Clan Sutherland Pipe Band, along with two or three other players, and the band managed to begin making an impact on the major championships to consolidate its position in grade 2. There were several noteable wins at smaller contests too and overall it was a good year for the band in terms of getting themselves known in competition circles.

2001

The band moved into the 2001 season full of confidence on the back of the previous season's successes. Combined with a hard winters work, led the band to being in the prize list at every major competition and a clean sweep of first places at minor competitions entered. These results included a third in the Worlds and being crowned Cowal Champions. As a result the band were placed second in the Champions of Champions table, narrowly beaten by Ravara and the drum corp taking the overall title for Grade 2.

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2002

2002 will stand in the band's history as being a year of under achievement. Although remaining in the Grade 2 prize list with the exception of the World's the band were left to reflect on what might have been and the challenges which lay ahead.

2003

Unfortunately the band were only able to compete on two occasions during the year, but managed to pick up a prize at Dumbarton. Due to a lack of numbers generally the band decided to re-group and focus on 2004 and beyond.

2004

During the winter both sections of the band were strengthened, but in-experience across the band was identified as a stumbling block to real success. Although not competitive at the major championships during the year there were strong positive performances at Gourock and at Bridge of Allen. These performances have given new vigour and a very positive outlook for the 2005 season in what is shaping up to be a very strong Grade 2.

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POSITIONS HELD WITHIN THE BAND SINCE ITS INCEPTION