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We were contacted recently by an ex-band member, John Wilson, who recognised himself in one of the photos on our website. John joined the band as a drummer in 1950, when he was 12, under Pipe Major Neil Crawford
The band is pictured in front of Kilmory Castle, which in those days was a youth hostel, and every week in the summer months the band played in the castle grounds and in the ballroom upstairs. They also had regular engagements at Minard Castle, Inveraray Games, Mid Argyll Show, Remembrance Day, New Years Eve and regularly played on Saturday evenings in Colchester Square Lochgilphead.
Practices were held in the old School House on Manse Brae, which is no longer there, but was opposite the Drill Hall. John also remembers competing with the band at Cowal Games in 1952 at Juvenile Grade.
When John joined the band Peter McArthur was Drum Tutor and Billy McIvor was Bass Drummer. The President at the time was Jock Campbell (Shirvan) and Archie Kenneth was on the Committee. Archie Kenneth was a leading influence in piping in Scotland and indeed some of his pipe tunes are featured in the Tunes of Argyll which is about to be published by the band.
When John was 18 he left to join the 1st Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Pipes and Drums, and for a time played with Campbeltown and Glasgow Skye. John also played with the 8th Argylls in the early 60s and was lead drummer in East Kilbride Pipe Band in the late 60s.
John moved to Castlemaine in Australia in 1976 where he played with the Castlemaine Pipe Band and also the Bendigo Golden City Pipe Band.
About twenty years ago took up the pipes, he also plays clarinet, smallpipes and whistle. Since John retired he has devoted more time to music performing regularly at concerts with his clarinet accompanied by an accordionist.
We are grateful to John for getting in touch with us and would ask anyone else who features in any of our photos to do the same
In the photo above: L-R Back: PM Crawford, Hamish McLean, Archie McArthur, ? Elliot, MP Ross McKenzie, Alistair Crawford, Archie Murray, Lachie McCallum, L-R Front Nigel McPhail, John Wilson, Myra Crawford, Jacky Sinclair, John Docherty (Missing from the photo are Nicol McCallum and Jimmy McCallum) The drums in the photo were purchased in 1954 and prior to that the band played rope drums.
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