Milestones reached at Burns dinners
With the largest member participation in its 41-year history, Delta Police Pipe Band performs for record crowd
The Delta Police Pipe Band played at a pair of Robbie Burns dinners last weekend in Ladner. The crowd of 860 is believed to make it the largest event of its kind in the world.
Photograph by: Trevor Black , Delta Optimist
A record crowd of 860 enjoyed the festivities as the Delta Police Pipe Band held a pair of Robbie Burns dinners at Sacred Heart Church in Ladner last weekend.
The annual gatherings to honour the Scottish bard are believed to be largest event of its kind in the world.
The band also celebrated the largest member participation in its 41-year history as 31 pipers, 12 side drummers, seven tenor drummers, three bass drummers and two drum majors (but no partridge in a pear tree) performed to the great delight of the crowd.
Led by pipe major John Ralston and drum majors Moe Coll and Jim Wishlove, the band played three sets of tunes with the highlight of the night being its reprise of its now famous performance of Mull of Kintyre with Sir Paul McCartney in Vancouver last November (it's on YouTube).
This rendition was led by the band's own singing group, The Deltones, with support from The Earthmen, who provided fabulous dancing music for the rest of the evening.
Another highlight this year was the performance of the band's regimental dancers, who bring the crowd to its feet every time they perform.
The events were held in honour of retired police chief George Angus, who was one of the founders of the band and one of its greatest supporters over the years. He passed away at the age of 86 in early January.
Dave Roberts, long time band photographer and emcee of the band's concerts and Burns dinners, was honoured with the first George Angus Award for outstanding service to the band.
Mayor Lois Jackson presented the band with a ceremonial quaich (a Scottish drinking cup) that she had personally ordered from Scotland for the band to use in times of celebration and for regimental purposes.
Other performers included Delta's own Clarion Highland Dancers, master piper Alan Walters and George Angus' granddaughter and three friends who sang a beautiful rendition of Loch Lomond.
Ninety-two-year-old band supporter George Abel, who has not missed a concert or Burns dinner in 22 years, was honoured with the "band toast" during the finale of the performance.
The band is off to Germany in March for a two-week tour of six cities as part of the military band show Musikparade.
