This year at Cowal Games will see the end of an era for the ScottishPower Pipe Band as long time serving member Ian McMillan hangs up his sticks.
Ian has played and competed with the band all over the world for the past 15 years and has been a major part in its competition success winning the World Championships Best Bass Drummer 4 times, Cowal Championships Best Bass Drummer 3 times and the Scottish Championships Best Bass Drummer 6 times.
Ian has also previously played with the Knightswood Juvenile Pipe Band, Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band and 100 Pipers Whisky. The last major championship of the 2011 season will be his official farewell performance and we are hoping to mark it on a high.
The band would like to thank Ian for his loyal service over the years and wish him well for the future. Ian proved that he is still very youthful by performing some trendy dance moves at the recent ‘Energy’ concert during the Drum Fanfare, so we don’t think he will be too idle in his retirement.
So who is stepping up to the mark? Well, the band would like to announce that Steven Roberts will be the new man to take on the mantle as the heart beat of the band. Steven has a hugely successful track record and vast experience at the top of the grade, having served under the legendary Jim Kilpatrick in the House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead drum corp for the past 7 years. We are looking forward to working with Steven with great excitement and his first official performance with the band will be at the Gordon Duncan Memorial Concert in Perth on Saturday 24th of September.