PIPE BAND PLAY AT ACPOS CONFERENCE AND 2008 SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIPS

Grampian Police Pipe Band had a busy week last week, when they played at the annual Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) Conference and competed at the 2008 Scottish Pipe Band Championships. 

The ACPOS Conference is held annually by the President of ACPOS, the post which Chief Constable Colin McKerracher has held for the past year. 

The conference was held at the Mercure Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen, between Thursday 22 May and Saturday 24 May 2008 and was attended by senior Police Officers and Police Staff from all eight Scottish Police Forces and other Forces from throughout the United Kingdom.  Senior representatives from Law Enforcement Agencies and other agencies, who work in conjunction with the Police, also attended.

Grampian Police Pipe Band entertain the guests of the

ACPOS Conference Friday 23rd May

The Band played an informal set on the Thursday evening which was complimented by a number of different instruments.  They returned on the Friday evening with a mini Band for a more traditional performance.

Inspector Murray Main, the Band Secretary said, "It was nice to be asked to play at this prestigious event which this year was hosted by Grampian Police.  It gave us the opportunity to perform a mix of both tradition music and some new material which the Band have been developing".     On Saturday 24 May 2008, the Band travelled to the 2008 Scottish Pipe Band Championships at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton.  This marked the start of the major Pipe Band Championship season.   The Band put in a strong performance and despite the overall placing, Pipe Major Drew Sinclair said, "There are without doubt positives to be taken from Saturday's performance not least the sound and overall placing for the pipe corps.  That said, we all recognise there is still a lot of work to be done and with the new players we have recently signed, I am confident we will get stronger and stronger as the season progresses."   

The Band is now preparing for a series of local competitions at Turriff on Sunday 1 June and Aberdeen on Sunday 15 June 2008.

Pipe Major Sinclair said, "We will continue building, competing and preparing for the British Pipe Band Championships, in Birmingham" (Saturday 28 June, 2008).      

ENDS