Tuesday, December 04, 2007


On the 14th December in the Heart of Hawick (http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/council/specialinterest/heartofhawick/21353.html) at 7:30pm the Borders Pipes album will be released.


It is the 5th CD in the Borders Traditions series supported by the Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Arts Service.


Dr. Fred Freeman will present the concert which will include all four pipers and their accompanists.


Friday, November 23, 2007

Border Reivers

Who says the Reivers are gone? From today's Berwickhire News:


Sheep rustling at Grantshouse
Large number of ewe lambs stolen



A LARGE number of Lleyn ewe lambs have been stolen from Penmanshiel Farm near Grantshouse.
The ewes all had yellow ear tags which had the flock number on them. Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact their local station.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

New web site for Borders

A very good new site has been created for the Borders and North Northumberland. Seems a welcome addition to the www and without petty politics.

See here: http://www.borderschat.com/

Monday, October 22, 2007

Satisfied customers

Good morning ! [or good evening, or good afternoon ]I saw your pipe band at Montbrison [near St Etienne, France], and I just want to tell you, it was great [too late, I know]See you soon in France (I hope) [why not at Lyon ].Oumanie. [one of the crazy girls who talked with Logan]

Montbrison



Pics and an article from James Bell on the recent trip to Montbrison. Sounds like a great time was had by all.


On Friday 5th Oct, at 4.00am, Coldstream Pipe Band set off for Montbrison, near Lyon in Southern France. We had been invited to take part in the Journees De La Fourmee 2007, a truly European festival, with bands and groups from Poland, Lithuania, Georgia, Croatia, Spain, Belgium and France.

We arrived at Lyon airport to be met by our guide for the weekend, Cynthia Bordas, an American living in Montbrison with her husband and two children. Cynthia was almost immediately nick named Madame Cyn by the band. After an hour and a half bus journey we arrived at Montbrison and shown to our accommodation which was in a college. The Croatians had already arrived and gave us a hearty welcome. We were fed in a community canteen washed down with the local red wine.

After dinner most of the band went to watch the Croatians and the Polish bands perform on a stage at the Town Hall. The elder gents of the band, Gordon, Rob, Frank and Alec decided they would finish off their wine and have an early night.

After watching the bands perform on stage the rest of the pipe band decided to find a bar for a nightcap. Just round the corner from the town hall was a bar which looked busy so in we went. Low and behold guess who were propping up the bar, more like the bar propping them up? Yes, the four elder statesmen of the band! Gordon was oot the box, Rob and Alec were not much behind him and Frank had found a friend called Fred. The bar man was an Italian called Alan, after a bit discussion about how Scotland beat the Italians at Rugby, big Al gave us all a complimentary drink with the promise of more if we came to his bar on Saturday night for the French /All Blacks game.

The auld yins had by this time long left us, so we decided it was time to go, as we could always have a drink back at the digs. On arriving back we heard that the Pipe Major had a mishap on his way home, missing the pavement and falling into a ditch. This will go down in band folklore as Rob’s cowp to join Gordon’s La Capelle side step.

On Saturday morning we visited the local market, getting souvenirs for the band WAGs back home. After that we killed off some time by visiting Big Al who was very pleased to see us.
After lunch it was down to business. The band had to play on four different stages dotted all round the centre of town. Starting at 3.15pm and finishing at 7.00pm.
Then a break for dinner, before, along with all the other groups, playing for over 900 people at a banquet. What a reception we received as we marched in to the hall playing “Blue Bonnets”.
Then it was a quick march down to Big Al’s for the Rugby when we all became French for the night.
Madame Cyn joined us for the night and soon found out she could not keep up and kind of fell by the wayside! But she coined a phrase that I am sure will be used often by the band in the future, “Oh my God, you guys are awesome!”

Sunday morning came all too soon and a rather hangover band got themselves ready for what would prove a massive day of playing.
After breakfast at 8.30 we made our way to the Cathedral where, along with the Croatians, the pipe band would play during the service.
At 10.30 we paraded to meet the Mayor and exchange gifts. The Mayor wishing us good luck for Scotland’s rugby match in the evening.
Lunch was followed by the fancy dress parade. To give you an idea how big the parade was, Coldstream Pipe Band started at 17th in the procession. In front of us was a Chinese group and immediately behind were five horsemen. The drummers felt it was just like Flodden day with the horses often getting a bit too close.
At the front of the band was Madame Cyn with a placard and a trolley full of water as the temperature was 26 degrees. It was estimated that there were 40,000 people lining the streets with all the children showering the band with confetti. After the parade the band had half an hour respite before performing on all four of the stages for one last time. It has to be said that the French love a Pipe Band, they clapped and cheered all day. It made us feel really appreciated.
After dinner and a wee drop of the red wine we headed to Big Al’s to watch the big game. It was shut! However, just up the street was a small bar so we took that one over. It was a great party atmosphere with the locals cheering on Scotland. We will not go into the result but the band had a great night!
On the way home James, Peter and Duncan re-enacted Rob’s cowp, with Duncan playing the Flowers of the Forest. What a grand end to a great weekend. Can’t wait till the next trip comes along.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Civic Week



Type 'Coldstream' into Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/) the site where people share their photos and it's amazing what you find.

These pics quickly emerged. The first is the band at the Installation of the Coldstreamer on 17 August this year. Thanks go to Phalarope, the Flickr contributor, for the picture.
The second, well, someone will have to explain. But it does look like confirmation that the Borders are, indeed, odd.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Weddings (3)






More pictures of the wedding of Laura and Scott Melville, 14th July 2007.

Weddings (2)






Pictures of a wedding we played at during the summer. This time at Ford Castle.


The weddings have been very enjoyable afternoons and great fun. We really hope they added another a bit of spectacle to a wonderful day.

Friday, October 05, 2007

Weddings




The band has been up to all sorts this year but a new phenomenon has been playing at weddings. Very enjoyable they are too.
There are a number of local options for celebrating a wedding in our area:
There's Coldstream itself: http://www.coldstreamweddings.co.uk/
Here are a couple of pics from a 'do' at Ford Castle and another chance to see Pete and Tammi.
If you are interested in booking the band for your big day, please contact us via the blog or the website.
All venues in the Borders and North Northumberland considered.

Au revoir






Last night in Thierache, presentations and speeches. Sir Gordon waxing lyrical as only he can.

Zuit Alors (3)


Late night shenanigans. The picture is in focus, it's the band that are blurry.

Zuit Alors (2)




Concert night.

Zuit Alors! (1)





Ooh La La. Le Band, de Coldstream in Thierache, Picardy: France ya bass!


This was a short tour we made in August. You might recall that the band from Thierache, the mighty d'Origny-en-Thierache visited Coldstream in April this year, see entries for April.

Pete and Tammi's wedding (4)




Now for the reception at Roberton village hall = BEER!!!

Pete and Tammi's wedding (3)





Here are pictures of the band playing Pete and Tammi from the Kirk.

Pete and Tammi's wedding (2)







As promised, more pics from Pete and Tammi's wedding in Roberton Kirk on 15th September. Pete has played in the band for ages and we were very happy to play him and his bride from the Kirk.


Here the band is playing into the Kirk yard.


Roberton is a small village in nearby Roxburgh; more info here: http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=1757908


A great day and a lovely wedding.


Many congratulations to Pete and Tammi.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Peter and Tammi get hitched


Congratulations to Peter and Tammi on their wedding on the 15th.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Flodden Day






Just before the band heads off to St Etienne for a short trip, here are some images of a baking hot Flodden Day. Pics taken by Alex, who plays the big bass drum.

Monday, August 06, 2007

Civic Week






Sunday 5th saw the Installation of this years Coldstreamer, Andrew Tait.


While Edinburgh shivered through the Festival Cavalcade in 15c, the other side of Soutra basked in a very sunny afternoon, 23c. God smiling on the righteous!


A few pictures of the afternoon's parade from the band's perspective. Halt at the War Memorial and a picture of the 2007 edition of the band. David Guthrie, local photographer, kindly took some pics of the band too and with his skills we will have a very high quality image for the web site, etc.


More pictures of the week as it progresses.


Thursday, June 14, 2007

Remaining engagements for 2007

Six months into the year it is worth recapping the diary for the remainder of the year:

1. 23rd June
Peebles. Leave at 9am. Henderson Park

2. 14th July
Wedding at Ford Castle – meet at Eildon at 1.30pm
Play in Henderson Park at 4.30pm

3. 21st July
Kelso Civic Week – leave at 5.45pm from Henderson Park. Parade at 7pm

4. 5th – 11th August Civic Week
· Sunday – Sashing ceremony: meet at 1pm at Eildon centre
· Monday – Return of the Norham rideout: 8.30pm at The Besom
· Thursday – Flodden rideout: 11am at Castle Car Park
· Friday – Torchlit procession: 9.30pm at Top Park Gates
· Saturday - Fancy Dress Parade: 4pm in the Park
· Saturday - Unsashing ceremony: 7pm prompt at Henderson Park

5. 19th August
Playing in Henderson Park/Gowanlea – meet at Eildon 2.30pm

6. 26th August
Borders Massed Pipe Bands: Floors Castle – leave Coldstream at 11.30am

7. 30th August – 3rd September
Trip to France

8. 22nd September
Coffee Morning: all members expected to attend and contribute to cake stall, raffle etc., 10am at The British Legion.

9. 11th November
Remembrance Sunday.

Coldstream by glider



Two pics of the town courtesy of the Borders Gliding Club http://www.bordersgliding.co.uk/. Very interesting site, if a bit technical! The weather page is worth a look though.

The Gliding Club runs from the former RAF Milfield, there's a history here http://www.milfield.org.uk/