GRAMPIAN POLICE LAUNCH NEW TARTAN |
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During 2007, Grampian Police Pipe Band is celebrating 100 years on the beat. As part of this landmark year, the band will launch the new Grampian Police tartan and announce its new partnership with Aberdeen-based manufacturing company, Balmoral Group, on Sunday 27 May 2007, at Balmoral Castle at 12pm. Formed in 1907, by a small group of Police Officers who pulled together their wages, the Aberdeen City Police Pipe Band originally wore the 'Hunting Gordon' tartan, until this was replaced in 1965, by the Black Stewart tartan which the 45 current members of the Pipe Band still wear. In early 2006, as the Pipe Band approached their hundredth year, it was felt appropriate to recognise the achievement by designing a new 'Force tartan' which could be used equally by the Pipe Band and Grampian Police as a whole |
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The task of designing the new tartan fell to Pipe Major Drew Sinclair and Drum Major Bill Barclay. Both Drew and Bill work for Grampian Police as a Police Constable in the firearms section and as a member support staff in the traffic department respectively. Bill is also a qualified kilt maker. The brief they were given was to produce a modern and contemporary tartan which retained a traditional military feel. In keeping with this, Bill and Drew used the original Pipe Band tartan, the 'Hunting Gordon' as a starting point. |
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Two tones of dark blue were chosen as the base weave as blue is a colour closely associated with the Police service and the United Kingdom as a whole. The darkest of the blues used looks almost black and is representative of North Sea Oil, which has shaped the region in recent years. Two more colours were added to dress the base weave, which also represent the Grampian region and Grampian Police. A light blue was added to represent the seascapes and large skies of Grampian and a thin white, almost unbroken, stripe was used to represent the chequered, or diced, band worn by the Police. |
Speaking about the design, Pipe Major Drew Sinclair, said: "It was important for us to celebrate one hundred years of music and tradition. The Force Executive gave us a great opportunity to mark the occasion and allowed us to develop a tartan which reflects our proud past as much as it represents our future." As well as being used by the Grampian Police Pipe Band, the tartan can also be purchased as either material only, or a finished garment through the Pipe Band or their website. The website, which has been newly designed by Fresh Ideas goes 'live' on Sunday 27 May 2007, and will provide information on upcoming events and information on the band, their history and their players. For more information, log on to www.grampianpolicepipeband.com. Band Manager, Chief Inspector Malcolm McMillan said: "We wanted to update our website to complement our new tartan and reflect the modern image of the Band. We feel that Fresh Ideas have achieved this and thank them for the excellent site which will be of use to us in the future." |
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As well as launching the new tartan and website, Grampian Police Pipe Band are pleased to announce its new partnership with Balmoral Group . Balmoral’s association with the band began on 1 May 2007, and will continue until 2009. Chief Inspector McMillan said: "We are very fortunate to have Balmoral Group as our new partners. Their support will allow the Band to maintain its commitments to a number of local causes and permit us to play throughout the area." |
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“Balmoral Group’s partnership with the Grampian Police Pipe Band can be viewed as a complementary blend of two north-east organisations coming together to celebrate all that’s great about this part of the UK. |
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“It seems fitting that Balmoral, whose innovations in subsea buoyancy are globally recognised, should be associated with another renowned north-east exponent whose expertise is acknowledged as world-leading”, said Jim Milne, chairman and MD of Balmoral Group. Following the event at Balmoral Castle, (See "Scotland on TV" Footage) the Pipe Band will be performing at Kirk Green, Ballater from 3pm. The Band will play alongside Ballater and District Pipe Band. Commenting on this, Chief Inspector McMillan said: "We wanted to mark the centenary by playing throughout the region and within our communities. It is equally important to support other local Bands from where a number of our own players started out."
Ballater and District Pipe Band Pipe Major Ian Smith said: "The majority of our Pipers and Drummers have been taught within the Band and this is a great opportunity for them to play alongside a top band." |
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