DRUM MAJORS TO THE FORE FOR TWEEDVALE PIPE BAND IN 2010!!

Whilst Tweedvale Pipe Band’s contest season was a non-starter due to the ongoing lack of drummers, the band’s presence was still felt on the contest circuit in 2010 through its Drum Majors Andy Lyon, who put in a full competitive season winning several prizes, and Aimee Forbes, who made a very successful debut in the Juvenile category.

In the adult Drum Majors, Andy Lyon had without doubt his most successful competition season since joining the band in 2002. Though unsuccessful in the highly competitive Major Championships, where the influx of Drum Majors from Ireland provide an extremely stiff test, Andy won prizes at 9 of the minor Scottish contests and once again lifted the RSPBA Lothian & Borders Adult Drum Major Champion of Champions title. Drum Major Lyon won the following prizes throughout 2010:

• 1^st at Perth.
• 2^nd at Bathgate, Ardrossan, Airth, North Berwick and Peebles.
• 3^rd at Ayr and Melrose.
• 4^th at Shotts

The band offers its warmest congratulations to Drum Major Andy Lyon on his successes in 2010.

Turning to the Juvenile section, the band’s latest recruit Aimee Forbes had a spectacular start to her competitive drum majoring career. Intensively tutored by Andy Lyon over the last year, Aimee made her competitive debut at her hometown contest, the traditional season ender at the Peebles Highland Games. Showing few nerves, Aimee put in a very creditable flourish performance and was awarded 4^th place by the judge. This performance also gained Aimee the RSPBA Lothian and Borders Juvenile Drum Major Champion of Champions title. The band offers its warmest congratulations to Drum Major Aimee Forbes on her successes in 2010.

Both Drum Majors as well as Tweedvale Pipe Band now face a long hard winter’s practice in preparation for next year’s contest season which commences in April 2011 with indoor mini-band contests and May 2011 with outdoor band and drum major contests. The band is on the look-out for new members, especially drummers. If anyone is interested in joining a Grade 3 competition band they are invited to get in touch with the band by turning up at one of the regularly scheduled band practices, on Monday nights in the Vale Club Innerleithen and on Thursday nights in the McFarlane Hall Peebles, by surfing to the bands website at www.tweedvalepipeband.com for further information or by getting in touch via the bands Facebook page. All are welcome, whether experienced musician or complete beginner.