Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Corstorphine Fair
The Fair was held on 7th June. it's taken a while to track down some images, but here they are; click on the link: Corstorphine Fair 2008
Kelso Civic Week
Two pictures of the Fancy Dress parade on the 19th of July, last night of Kelso Civic Week. (Kelso is a small village near Coldstream).
Pictures borrowed from Pitchoun8 from the Flickr website. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pitchoun8/sets/). Worth looking at some very good images here.
Fancy Dress was very good and the band were playing well.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Hawick Highland Games
Pictures courtesy of Cessna152towser from the FlickR picture database. And a video of the Band playing Highland Cathedral here: http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b345/cessna152towser/dumfries/?action=view¤t=S8305876.flv
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Corstorphine Fair
Thanks to everyone who attended Corstorphine Fair.
We did very well thanks in particular to Rebecca, Louise and Sophie who were making their Pipe Band debuts. (See photo).
Thursday, April 24, 2008
First Post
April is a bit tardy to be updating the blog for the first time in'08, but as the season begins it's a good point to remind ourselves what's been happening.
Thanks to Scott and Laura Melville, the couple who booked us for their wedding at Ford Castle, for their kind comments - it was a pleasure to play for you.
Next up is Pipey Bell in the Berwick Advertiser helping a French couple get married: http://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/news/First-French-couple-to-marry.3820700.jp Photo above.
Bob Liddle, one of our musical virtuoso's, has a new website at http://robertliddle939.art.officelive.com/default.aspx. Bob has some good pics of the band on his site.
Gareth has been installed as this years Coldstreamer, congratulations to him. More at http://www.berwickshire-news.co.uk/news/Gareth-installed-as-2008-Coldstreamer.3987498.jp. He also has a Bebo site at http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=4488852705 with some good pictures of the band, one from Flodden Day above.
And finally, a review of our trip to Ortiguera has emerged, see here http://www.folkworld.de/22/e/ortigue.html
That's all for now, more soon.
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.
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/
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.
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 (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/
Ford Castle: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Fordcastle/
Wedderlburn Castle: http://www.wedderburn-castle.co.uk/
Duns Castle: http://www.dunscastle.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! (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.
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