North England Branch RSPBA

BRANCH CHAMPIONSHIP

The Keith Wilkinson Memorial Trophy

Keith was for many years a bass/tenor drummer with the City of Bradford Pipe Band. He also served on the Branch Committee in various capacities for 26 years. He was the Chairman from 1978 to 2004, Branch Secretary and Treasurer from 1991 to 2004 and National Council Representative from 1978 until 2002. He retired in December 2004 and died a short time afterwards in 2005.

Every year this trophy is presented to the band which has gained the most points over all the indoor contests. It is different from all the other trophies in that this one rewards bands not only for their success in competition but also for how much participation they have given to branch contests throughout the indoor season.

TRIO PIPING

The
Rose Fletcher Pipe Band
Challenge Cup
Open, 1st prize

The Joe Riley Shield
Open, 2nd prize

Branch Shield
Open, 3rd prize

The Hodgkisson Bennis Trophy Grade 3, 1st prize Little Hulton Pipe Band was decimated in a road accident on the M62 on the way to the Cleckheaton Contest on 3rd June 1978. The band then reformed as Hodgkinson Bennis Pipe Band and, under the leadership of Terry Blake as Pipe Major and Dougie Auld as Pipe Sergeant, started to win prizes regularly, becoming Grade 4 Champion of Champions in 1979, the first English band to achieve this in over 20 years. They then went on to be promoted to Grade 3 in 1980 and to Grade 2 in 1981.	The David Law Shield Grade 3, 2nd prize	Branch Shield Grade 3, 3rd prize
The John Wagstaffe Memorial Challenge Trophy Grade 4 MSR, 1st prize This is the oldest trophy in the Branch. It was originally donated to the Manchester Highland Games in 1958 by the St Andrews Pipe Band, Stockport. After the demise of the Games it was redonated in 1962 to the North West England Branch of the then SPBA. Who was John Wagstaffe? The story which has come down with this trophy is that John was the Drum Major of St Andrews Pipe Band and met with a tragic accident. After an engagement several members of the band went into a local pub for a drink. As a light-hearted lark, John pulled out his dirk and threw it at the dart board. Instead of sticking into the board it rebounded and hit him in the chest. He died of his injury.	The John McErlaine Memorial Shield Grade 4 MSR, 2nd prize Donated by Christine McErlaine, a former committee member of Warrington Pipe Band, in memory of her husband.	Branch Shield Grade 4 MSR, 3rd prize

The
F. W. Compton
Memorial Shield
Grade 4 Marches, 1st prize

The
P/M Rose Fletcher Mellor Shield
Grade 4 Marches, 2nd prize

Branch Shield
Grade 4 Marches, 3rd prize

The
West Yorkshire Fire Service Pipe Band Shield
Trio Piping, Juvenile, 1st prize Formed in 1960 by Chief Fire Officer Harry Judge as the West Riding County Fire Service P/B. By permission of the War Office, the band was allowed to wear a uniform of red doublets and green MacKenzie kilts. After Fire Service re-organisation in 1974 the band was renamed the West Yorks Fire Service Pipe Band. With approval of Earl of Ramsay, they changed their uniform to black doublets and flame-red Ramsay kilts. After many years of representing the Fire Service at community events and on ceremonial duties, the band competed at Dunoon, winning their 1st trophy, 1st in marching and discipline. This was a very successful period for the band, entering events not only in England and Scotland but also in Holland, Dublin and Belgium where they became national Grade 4 Champions. Many trophies then graced the shelves of the Fire Service Headquarters and the band was promoted to Grade 3. The Pipe Major at this time was Craig MacIntosh, who had succeeded John Taggart. An L.P. was recorded in 1983 with the West Yorkshire Fire Service Brass Band. Craig then left to join Clan Sutherland, and his place was taken by Alan Harrison who led the band for a while before he also went to Clan Sutherland. Due to cost cutting in the early 1990s the band lost its traditional funding and support from the Fire Service Authorities. In September 1992, Owen D. Nash was offered the post as Pipe Major and, under his guidance and leadership, gained many more trophies, including the RSPBA Grade 4 English Championship title in 1995 and 1996.

Branch Shield
Trio Piping,
Juvenile, 2nd prize

Branch Shield
Trio Piping,
Juvenile, 3rd prize

QUARTET PIPING

The Loch Ness Cup Open MSR, 1st Prize
The Presidents Cup Grade 3, Medley, 1st Prize	Branch Shield Grade 3, Medley, 2nd Prize	Branch Shield Grade 3, Medley, 2nd Prize
The Mount Carmel Cup Grade 4 MSR, 1st prize	Branch Miniature Shield Grade 4 MSR, 2nd Prize	Branch Miniature Shield Grade 4 MSR, 3rd Prize
The Stewart Challenge Cup Grade 4 Marches 1st Prize	Jade Matthews Memorial Shield Grade 4, 2nd Prize	Branch Shield Grade 4, 3rd Prize

MINIBANDS

Liverpool Scottish
Regimental Association
Shield
Minibands Open
1st prize

Branch Shield
Minibands Open
2nd prize

Branch Shield
Minibands Open
3rd prize

Fred Meadowcroft
Memorial Shield
Minibands Grade 3
1st prize

Branch Shield
Minibands Grade 3
2nd prize

Branch Shield
Minibands Grade 3
3rd prize

Capt. R. H. Wignall Shield
Minibands
Grade 4 MSR, 1st prize Capt. Robert Harold Wignall joined the Liverpool Scottish in 1936 and was mobilised one week before the outbreak of World War 2. From there he was posted to the Corps of Military Police (Intelligence Corps) and served in various ports throughout the war, gaining his commission into the Intelligence Corps in 1942. He served as chairman of the Liverpool Scottish Regimental Association for 11 years from 1980-1991. He was instrumental in forming the L.S.R.A. Pipes and Drums in Feb. 1987 under P/M Arthur Gallagher.

John Jenkins
Memorial Shield
Minibands
Grade 4 MSR
2nd prize John was a native of Wick in the North of Scotland. He moved to Wallasey on the Wirral in the early 1960's and was a founder member of the Wirral Pipe Band in 1975. He played with the band for many years. He died very suddenly of a heart attack in 1996.

Ramsay Ross
Memorial Shield
Minibands
Grade 4 MSR
3rd prize Donated by Chris Eyre in memory of a great friend of long standing. A quiet, kindly and learned man from Rossshire who loved his piping and was a great father and husband. He enjoyed Scottish Country Dancing and was a member of Wallasey Caledonian Society for many years before retiring to Holywell in North Wales.

Branch Shield
Minibands Grade 4
1st prize

Branch Shield
Minibands Grade 4
2nd prize

Branch Shield
Minibands Grade 4
3rd prize

Branch Shield
Minibands Juvenile
1st prize

Branch Shield
Minibands Juvenile
2nd prize

Branch Shield
Minibands Juvenile
3rd prize

SOLO PIPING

The
John McErlaine Cup
Solo Piping
Overall Winner
Donated by Christine McErlaine, a former committee member of Warrington Pipe Band, in memory of her husband.

Ardgour Shield
Solo Piping
Juvenile (under 19) 2/4 March
1st prize

Silver Chanter
Solo Piping
Juvenile (under 19) Slow Air
1st prize

Eric Fallon Shield
Solo Piping
Juvenile (under 19) 2/4 March
2nd prize

Branch Shield
Solo Piping
Juvenile (under 19) 2/4 March
3rd prize

The
Frank Pirie Shield
Solo Piping
Advanced 6/8 March
1st prize Donated by Frank Pirie, Secretary of the Liverpool Scotish Regimental Association Pipe Band. Served with Queens Own Cameron Highlanders 1944-47, Liverpool Scottish 1947-55, S.A.S. 1955-60, Liverpool Scottish 1960-70. Joined LSRA 1975, became committee member 1985, assistant Secretary 1994, Band Secretary 1995. Designed the new LSRA standard 1995 dedicated June 1996. He was an accompIished oil painter and has 1 paintinq hanging in the LSRA museum ('Battle of Hooge 1915'). 1 painting in the Royal Naval Association wardroom, Bowring Park, L’pool, ('Rescue from Sir Galahad, Falklands 1982'), and a large number of tall ships, (‘Boston Mass., U.S,A'). He was the official photographer for Association and Band.

Gr Manchester Army Cadet Force Shield
Solo Piping
Advanced 6/8 March
2nd prize

Branch Shield
Solo Piping
Advanced 6/8 March
3rd prize

The
Angus Grant Memorial Shield
Solo Piping
2/4 March
1st prize This trophy was presented to the branch by the North West England Piping Society. Angus lived in Harrogate, West Yorkshire and way back in the 1980's he ran a number of recitals by some of the top solo pipers around at that time. Angus served in the RAF and rose through the ranks to become a Wing Commander or some such high ranking officer. He played with the City of Leeds Pipe Band and it was because of Angus's recitals in Harrogate that the NWEPS was formed.

Branch Shield
2/4 March
2nd prize

The
Bolton Scottish Shield
Solo Piping
2/4 March
3rd prize
Donated by Bolton Scottish Pipe Band.

The
Joe Massey Cup
Solo Piping
Advanced B Grade Hornpipe & Jig
1st prize Donated by Joe Massey. Joe joined the Scots Guards after leaving school, one of three brothers who served with the regiment, the elder being killed in action. He learned his piping with the 2nd Battalion and also studied at Buckingham Palace under Alec MacDonald, the then Sovereign's Piper. After leaving the Scots Guards he returned to Liverpool and played with the Clan MacLeod Pipe Band. He then joined the Cameron Highlanders 1st Battalion, the Liverpool Scottish and returned as P/Sgt when it disbanded. Became Pipe Major of the Liverpool Irish and was the regiment's last Pipe Major. The Irish then became the 1003 Light Air Defence Regiment. Jow became its first Pipe Major. He later moved to Ayr and joined the Killoch Colliery P/B as P/Sgt. During his stay there he judged the Killoch Junior Piping Competition and was offered a job teaching piping in the schools. He then joined Brith Caledonian Airway P/B and played with them for several years before retiring to Anglesey. He then moved to Formby where he taught the Merseyside Cadets Pipe Band for a number of years.

Branch Shield
Solo Piping
Advanced B Grade Hornpipe & Jig
2nd prize George, brother of Robert, founding P/M of St George's C.L.B. Pipe Band, Chorley, was Pipe Sergeant to Hugh MacPherson at Lahore & District Pipe Band during its time in Grade 1. A close relationship existed between the Chorley and Lahore Bands during the 1950's and 1960's, and in the early 1960's George moved south and joined his brother Robert in the band, became Pipe Sergeant for a while. His expertise led to a very successful period in the band's history but ill health led to an early retirement from piping.

Branch Shield
Solo Piping
Advanced B Grade Hornpipe & Jig
3rd prize

The D.S.Edge Silver Chanter Solo Piping Advanced B Grade MSR 1st prize This trophy, a practice chanter made in solid stainless steel and mounted on a wooden stand, was made and donated by David Edge, Drum Major and Chairman of Warrington Pipe Band, sometime in the 1960s or 70s.
The Kevin Regan Memorial Shield Solo Piping Advanced B Grade MSR 2nd prize	The Angus Grant Memorial Shield Solo Piping Advanced B Grade MSR 3rd prize This is the 2nd of two trophies dedicated to Angus Grant. (See the note on the other one - 1st in 2/4 March, Solo Piping)

NWEPS Challenge Cup
(Rose Fletcher)
Solo Piping
Hornpipe & Jig (A Grade)
1st prize

Branch Shield
Solo Piping
Advanced A Grade Hornpipe & Jig
2nd prize

Branch Shield
Solo Piping
Advanced A Grade Hornpipe & Jig
3rd prize

The
Michael Kinahan Trophy
Solo Piping
Advanced A Grade MSR
1st prize Taught by Rose Fletcher, Michael played in the Rose Fletcher Pipe Band in its early days. He then went to St Thomas of Canterbury in Broughton. He was taken very ill and died while still a young man.

Colin Winstanley
Memorial Cup
Solo Piping
Advanced A Grade MSR
2nd prize

Branch Shield
Solo Piping
Advanced B Grade MSR
3rd prize Joe joined St George's C.L.B.Pipe Band in 1956, aged 8. He became Pipe Major in 1968, aged 20 and held this post for thirty years, retiring in 1998. Throughout this time the band was in Grade 3, with two spells in Grade 2, (1976-1983 and 1988-1992). From 1976 to 1983 he also headed St George's Novice Juvenile P/B which won many prizes including 2nd at the Worlds at Lanark in 1978.

SOLO DRUMMING