Praise for world beaters

Highland Council Piping Instructors Niall Matheson and Niall Stewart, and drumming Instructor Drew Caldwell, with their bands 'Ross and Cromarty Pipes & Drums School' (Novice A) and 'Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band' (Novice B) achieved the ultimate accolade by becoming World Pipe Band Champions in their respective grades at the weekends competition in Glasgow.  

They were warmly congratulated and thanked for all the additional time they spend working with these groups by the Councils Music Development Officer, Norman Bolton, at a meeting of all Music Instructors on Monday.

Norman said: “Winning a competition at this level is a huge achievement, not only from a playing perspective but also in overcoming the immense additional difficulties associated with living in the Highlands,  while competing in a largely central belt based activity.  The bands success is also testament to the support of local communities, parents and the pupils who choose to participate in addition to their weekly lessons.”