The Delta Police Pipe Band held its 41st annual Robbie Burns' dinners last Friday and Saturday night in Ladner before two sold out crowds that totalled 870 guests. The dinners are believed to be the largest of their kind in the world.
Under the direction of pipe major John Ralston and drum majors J.P. DaSilva and Jim Wishlove, the crowds were entertained by the pipe band's three performances, the regimental dancers and pipers, and songs by the band's singing group, The Deltones. Also performing were the Shannon Highland dancers, master piper Alan Walters and various speakers extolling the virtues of Robert Burns.
The exceptional dance band The Earthmen delighted the crowd with great dancing music into the wee hours of the morning.
The events are major fundraisers for the band, which will attending the Okanagan Military Tattoo in Vernon this summer and then will be travelling to Holland in September to take part in the Netherlands Military Tattoo.
Holland will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Holland by Canadian Forces during the Second World War and it is quite an honour to be chosen as the only pipe band to represent Canada at the prestigious event.
The band would like to thank the following for their great support, not only for the weekend's festivities, but throughout the year: Chief Jim Cessford and the Delta Police Department, Mayor Lois Jackson and the Corporation of Delta, the Royal Canadian Legion branches in Ladner and Tsawwassen, Ladner and Tsawwassen Save-On Foods, Barry Marshall, Sacred Heart Church and the Delta Optimist.
