Grampian Police Pipe Band has celebrated their successful trip to Norway for a record breaking Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) show.

Ten members of the Band returned this week from playing at this year’s festival, part of the ONS in Stavanger.

The event, which comprises of an exhibition, conference and exciting culture festival, saw the heart of the worlds energy industries descend on Stavanger from 23 – 27 August 2008.

Aberdeen City and Shire Councils, in partnership with The Balmoral Group, arranged for a small number of Band members to participate in the festival in order to promote Scotland and the north-east and to entertain the thousands of visitors to the festival within the picturesque harbour area. 

ONS 2010 attracted more visitors than ever before in its 34-year history, with more than 47,000 people estimated to have attended the 19th biennial event. 

The Band played in the afternoon and evening times in between heavy rain periods which soaked delegates at the start of the week.

Members of the Band also played at the stand of the Band’s main sponsor, The Balmoral Group during the main exhibition. 

Inspector Murray Main said, “This is the second time we have visited ONS and we are delighted with the reception we got.  Everyone seemed to really enjoy our music and the Band members themselves enjoyed playing in front of the large crowds who visited the festival area each day.  We would like to thank Aberdeen City and Shire Councils for the arranging the visit and also thank The Balmoral Group, and for making it possible.”

More than 70 UK companies, many of them Scottish, were amongst the 1,351 exhibitors from 32 nations represented.