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Guelph Pipe Band: Celebrating 100 Years

August 9, 2022 - January 15, 2023

A b/w group photograph of the Guelph Pipe band in uniform, posed in front of the main entrance to city hall in 1922

Banner Image: Black and white photo of Guelph Pipe Band in front of City Hall circa 1922. Pictured, left to right: Pipe Major Jim Hill, Pipe Cpl. Bill Flanigan, Jim McHaffie, Alex Livingstone, Jimmy Ferguson, Art Corstorphine, Tom Patterson, John Corstorphine, Dave Fulton, and two drummers (unknown). 1992.33.1, Guelph Museums

The creation of a pipe band was inspired by the Guelph Burns Club, which celebrated poet Robbie Burns in the local Scottish diaspora. To fund the band, a Tag Day campaign raised $72 and the Victoria-Guelph Chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire collected $500. The Guelph Pipe Band was officially formed in the fall of 1922.

Members of the band served with the Highland Light Infantry during the Second World War. Guelph’s Pipe Major Art Corstorphine led the Canadian bands as they marched into Berlin in 1945. After the war, the Guelph Pipe Band competed in the Ontario highland games circuit, under Pipe Major Bob Whittle.

In 1968, Whittle and Lead Drummer Andy Donachie led the band to fifth place in their class at the World Pipe Band Championships in Grangemouth, Scotland. As a competitive soloist, Edward Neigh was one of the first non-Scottish players to win the Dunvegan medal, a prize sought by pipers around the world. In 1976, the Guelph Pipe Band captured the North American Championship in Grade II. In 1977, they were the first Canadian band to win the Intercontinental Pipe Band Championship at the Scottish World Festival in Toronto.
Today, the Guelph Pipe Band celebrates 100 years under Pipe Major Tyler Bridge and Lead Drummer Thomas Litherland.

Guelph Pipe Band 100th Bass Drum Head

Photograph taken at the Cambridge Highland Games by Meagan Young


Watch History Bites: Guelph Pipe Band at 100 Years with Guelph Museums curator Dawn Owen, and past and present band members Tyler Bridge, Jim McGillivray, Ellen Mole, Marilyn Willis, Larry Willis and more!

Part 1:

Part 2:

Details

Start:
August 9, 2022
End:
January 15, 2023
Event Categories:
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Organizer

Guelph Museums

Venue

Guelph Civic Museum
52 Norfolk Street
Guelph, Ontario N1H 4H8 Canada
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Phone
519-836-1221
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