The much anticipated Pipe Band tour to the United States lived up to all our expectations and exceeded many of them. We had a wonderful time in both Rhode Island and New York and everyone in the Band has returned thankful to have been part of such a great trip and considerably heavier as a consequence of the superb American hospitality.

Our stay at the Roger Williams University campus in Bristol, Rhode Island allowed us to give the opening performance in the Drums & Bugle Corps Competition there on the evening prior to the 4th July. This was an amazing event and hugely impressed us all as did the Fireworks Display which served as its finale. The 4th July Parade was a great occasion. The patriotism of the Americans is something to behold and it was a privilege as well as a wonderful experience for the Band to play there. The day ended for us with a generous Cookout at the home of a local family where some of the Band members performed very well on the pipes and very energetically in dancing.

When we moved to New York the Central Park performance of the Band was one of the finest of the whole year. The Drum Fanfare was particularly appreciated by a huge audience and compliments were received from all quarters. The tour was made possible in part by the generosity of some Old Fettesians in the United States and we had a wonderful day at the home in Connecticut of Ian Mackenzie Sim where the Band entertained another large crowd with some superb playing and were in turn entertained to a lavish meal.

The tour was not all playing however and we were able to spend time visiting Ground Zero, Staten Island (The Statue of Liberty) and West Point Military Academy, the latter as guests of Dickson Brown. We were also royally entertained in Darien, Ct, by friends of Mr & Mrs Spens and had two wonderful tour meals in Newport, Rhode Island and at Ellen`s Stardust Restaurant on 42nd Street, New York. A visit to Broadway to see Phantom of the Opera meant that we were not always working!

Apart from the high standard of playing at each performance one of the most pleasing aspects of the tour was the number of compliments we received about the Band members` behaviour and politeness in every venue. This added hugely to the enjoyment of the tour for the staff and particular thanks must go to them. Joe Rafferty and Jim Walker, our piping and drumming instructors, have prepared and moulded a very fine playing unit and their hard work in preparation for each performance cannot be overestimated. Rona MacVicar and Debbie Spens brought their considerable charms and expertise to bear on many aspects of the tour, not least in washing shirts and organising meals, and we are hugely grateful to them for their unfailing support and the measure of glamour they brought to the touring party.

A wonderful tour with some wonderful playing and entertaining that even the presence of America`s worst coach driver on our visit to West Point could not spoil! There is no doubt that the Pipe Band showed, yet again, that it is a wonderful asset to the College and that its members are wonderful ambassadors wherever they go.               

Rev. BS McDowell