Calling all former members of Eden Pipe Band. It’s 25 years since their finest hour in winning Grade Two of the World Championships and to mark the occasion the Northern Ireland band is holding a Silver Jubilee reunion.
It was back on Saturday, August 15, 1987, that David Caldwell’s all-conquering outfit from County Tyrone celebrated their finest hour in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow (picture attached) by beating Denny & Dunnipace to the Kintail Cup, ahead of Dublin’s St Lawrence O’Toole and City of Dundee. The band also won the Wallacestone Cup for marching and discipline and came within a point of making it a clean sweep of trophies with Leyland Walker’s drummers. That year Eden were also crowned Champion of Champions and the following season were pipped by Torphichen and Bathgate in their defence of the Grade Two title.
Since Eden’s formation in 1970 there have been three pipe majors – Tommy Barbour, Jackie Hamilton and David Caldwell – and whilst the band is no longer in the competition arena several former members continue to play on the circuit .
Now the band is trying to track down as many former members as possible for the reunion bash planned for the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh, Co Tyrone, on Friday, September 28.
Past secretary Nigel Ballantine explains: ‘If you have ever worn the famous MacLean of Duart tartan then you are very welcome to renew old acquaintances for what is sure to be a special night of nostalgia.
‘Many past members are scattered throughout all corners of the globe and we need you to contact myself or any current member. And if you can’t attend it would still be great to hear from you in advance.’
For further details contact any band member or Nigel on nigel.ballantine@gmail.com (Tel +44 7788443550).
