City of Bradford Pipe Band

The St George's Day Parade through Saltaire was led by the City of Bradford Pipe Band. Originally formed in 1914 as a drum and bugle band by the Bradford Volunteer Force, they added bagpipes in 1917. The band adopted full highland uniform (kilts) in the 1920s and eventually became a fully equipped highland pipe band, adding a group of highland dancers to their number in the 1940s. Both the band and the dancers have been very successful over the years in winning competitions organised by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and they won the All-England Championship three times.

Judging from their performance in Saltaire, they are re-establishing a high standard and are keen to recruit new members. Bagpipes and drums are certainly not the easiest instruments to learn but must be very satisfying to master. I do love the sound of them (outdoors at least) and I really enjoyed watching the parade. The band and dancers take on various civic and community engagements. Long may they continue!