Grampian Police Pipe Band are taking a well-earned rest over the festive period, before returning for what will hopefully be a highly successful 2010 season.
Looking back over 2009, Pipe Major Drew Sinclair said:"We have worked hard this year and it has really paid of. We achieved a consistent standard at the local and major competitions."
"A 6th at the Europeans and 3rd at Cowal were both very good. But for me, the highlight was coming 5th at the World's. I felt we played really well and showed just how much potential we have. Everyone certainly enjoyed themselves."
The band also retained the coveted overall Champions of Champions title for the North of Scotland in both grade 2 and grade 1, ensuring they remain the premier north band.
Pipe Major Sinclair said: "We have shown what we are capable of and it will be vital that we build on that next year."
This has been another busy year for the Police Band with members playing at over 35 separate charity, community, police and private engagements all over the north and northeast, as well as further a field.
In the Year of Homecoming, members played at Middleton Primary School and twice at the International School, entertaining pupils, teachers and guests.
Through partnership with THE BALMORAL GROUP, the band were delighted to provide support to a number of local charities, including the Diced Cap Charitable Trust, Crimestoppers Scotland, Princes Trust and the Touch of Tartan Ball.
In November, the band were once more honoured to lead the Armistice Parade within Aberdeen.
Members also managed to find time to travel to Lisbon to represent Scotland and the northeast.
On Friday, November 20th, a mini Band comprising 4 pipers, 2 side drummers and a bass drummer traveled to Portugal as guests of the St Andrew's Society Lisbon.
The Band performed on the Saturday at the 75th Anniversary St Andrew's Ball held at the Palacio Hotel, Estoril. 200 guests attended the black tie event with the dance music being provided by Caerketton, an Edinburgh based dance band who have attended the event for several years.
The Band would like to thank the Chieftain Mr David Wilkie and all his team for the truly excellent hospitality received during the weekend.
Even a missed flight at Amsterdam on the way home delaying their return to Aberdeen until the Tuesday morning did not detract from a truly wonderful weekend.
On Friday, November 27th, Pipe Major Drew Sinclair returned to Portugal and performed at the Porto St Andrew's Ceilidh held at the Oporto Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club.
This was the 8th occasion Drew has attended the event and the ninth successive year that the Band has been represented at the event. The evening was a great success as always with the dancing eventually stopping at 5am. An excellent ensemble of local professional musicians who come together once a year and explore their celtic roots provides the dance music at this event.
Grampian Police Pipe Band also entertained competitors and spectators attending the recent European Curling Championships, within Aberdeen.
Members of the band have recently accepted invitations to join an experienced team of pipe and drum tutors to support Aberdeenshire Youth Pipes and Drums. With funding from the Youth Music Initiative, this exciting new venture will open a series of Induction workshops throughout Aberdeenshire for young players of both pipes and drums.
Grampian Police Pipe Band will be supporting the Youth Band and have recently given them their entire set drums and harnesses at a reduced price.
Looking forward to the forthcoming year, Drew confirmed the band had successfully recruited a number of "highly influential players."
He said; "I am delighted to confirm that we have recently signed a number of talented new players who will strengthen both the pipe and drum corps".
The Band has signed 3 pipers, 3 side drummers and an additional tenor drummer.
PM Sinclair said: "We are all really looking forward to the next season. These extra players will undoubtedly give us a lift but we have a lot of hard work to be done between now and then."
"The Grade II field is very competitive with a lot of really good Pipe Bands all aiming for the top places. If we want to be amongst them, and there is no reason we can't, we will all need to be playing week in week out to be ready."
A news release will be issued early in the new year to introduce each of them.
Summing up the year, Band Manager Chief Inspector Murray Main said, "This has been a fantastic year for the band." 
"We have been able to balance the desire to do well in competition with our community engagements and charity commitments. That wouldn't be possible without the constant support of both the Force and our partners, The Balmoral Group".
Chief Inspector Main continued, "We have continued to strengthen areas of the band and whilst we all recognise there is still a lot of hard work to be done, there is a real sense of excitement about what we can achieve next year".
He added that a lot of work behind the scenes had ensured the band were on a solid financial footing and, with excellent support from the Force Executive, the band had what it required to achieve continued success in 2010.
CI Main singled out the tremendous support they had from the non playing members who he said were every bit as important to the band. "The guys turn up at practices and competitions to help ensure we are sounding good. They don't always get the credit they deserve."
He also highlighted the success of the band's Web Site which has attracted over 10,000 hits within the first year. He added: Julie Brinklow and I try to ensure the web site keeps everyone up to date with what's all happening. It's a lot of work, but to see over ten thousand viewers visiting the site in the first twelve months is really encouraging and highly rewarding."
CI Main said: "Everyone at Grampian Police Pipe Band would like to take this opportunity to wish all our past and present players, families, friends and everyone who regularly visits our web site, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
ENDS