Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band prepare for their European championship debut

The Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band pictured earlier this year performing at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships in Edinburgh

The Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band is gearing up for their debut at the European Pipe Band Championships in Forres on Saturday 27 June.  Made up of pupils from Plockton High School and the surrounding Primary Schools of Lochalsh, they have only recently registered with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and this will be their first ever RSPBA competition, playing in the Novice Juvenile category.

Whilst the band has been in existence for a few years, it is only in the last 18 months that they have managed to secure regular drumming instruction in the schools, thanks to some financial assistance from the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT), the support of local businesses and some active fundraising from the committee. 

The band now finds itself in a position where they have sufficient numbers to be able to compete at Championships and earlier this year entered and won the 'Debut' category at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships in Edinburgh. 

Pipe Major Niall Stewart, The Highland Council’s Piping Instructor for the area said: "The band is very much looking forward to our first competition at the European Championships in Forres. I'm sure the pupils will benefit from the experience of being involved in a major championship. Our Drummers are very young with 6 of them being aged only 9 or 10 so it will be a huge day for them in particular. Forres is one of the few Pipe Band competitions that we can attend without incurring the cost of overnight accommodation so we intend to enjoy our day and are proud to be representing the area of Lochalsh at the Championships."