Pipe Major Dougie Auld and Annie Grant.
Jim Dillon
In 1959 Dougie Auld, an ex-Cameron Highlander and at that time Pipe Major of Warrington Pipe Band, wrote to the Secretary of the SPBA to request the founding of a branch. On Sunday Jan 16th 1960, Dougie convened the inaugural meeting in a pub in Warrington (name unknown but it is/was on the right hand side of Winnick Rd going into Warrington). It was here that the branch was formed. Dougie became the first Chairman of the Branch.
In later years Annie went back to Dunoon where she taught piping in Dunoon Grammar School and was a good solo piping competitor.
Taken in 1975 at the end of the season when the band led by P/M Willie Srathearn won the World Pipe Band Grade 3 Championship and were proclaimed Champion of Champions Grade 3.
Back row: Paul Weaver, George Cridge, Ian Wightman, Alan Hill, Don Henderson.
Middle row: Bill Strathearne, Phil McConnell, Dave Edge, Derek Hart, Colin Jenkins, Doug Hewgill, Mike Buttress, Gerry McCoombe, Bernie Lee, John Rothwell, Neil Drummond.
Front row: Dave Bibby, Eric Taylor, James Drummond, Robert Dagnall, John Morgan, Tony Haynes (rainbow) and Bill Bamber.
(Note by Dave Bibby): On this photo the most memorable trophy to me is the little one in the centre at the front. This was the only Corps Drumming trophy I won during my time leading the drum corps, but if you are going to win one, then the World Championship one is the one to go for.
Don Teece, Hughie Coombes, Jimmy Dillon, Neil Drummond, Drum Major ???, Sammy Crompton, Barney Losh?, Jack Brown, ???, ???, John Corbett, Bill Strathearn, Jimmy Oatway.
Front row. John Corbett, Mike Delaney, Roy Bentley, Derek Hart, Malcolm Pearce, Dave Bibby (me), Neil Drummond.
Back row. Frank Harbourne (sec) Bill Strathearn, Jimmy Dillon, Mick McKenzie, Hughie Coombes, Don MacKenzie, Jack Hope, Don Teece, Jimmy Oatway.
Front row: Jimmy Dillon, Ian Wightman, Dougie Auld.
Second row: John Corbett, Neil Drummond, Don MacKenzie, Jimmy Oatway.
Front row: Pipe Major Dougie Auld, John Corbett and P/S Bill Strathearn.
Next row: jimmy Oatway, Jimmy Dillon and Ian Wightman.
Front: Drum Major Jack Hope.
Front row: Dougie Auld, Jimmy Oatway and Bill Strathearn.
2nd row: John Corbett with Neil Drummond behind him. Don’t know next one but Hughie Coombes is behind him.
Jimmy Dillon, Hughie Coombes, Dougie Auld, Neil Drummond, John Corbett, A N Other,
Jack Brown, Tommy Healey, A N Other, A N Other, Jimmy Oatway, Derek Hart, Bill Strathearn.
Ian Wightman, drummer Tommy Healey and Jimmy Dillon.
Footnote: In 1962. Warrington Pipe Band, after a successful engagement season, purchased 18 new kilts and plaids. The new tartan they adopted is their present tartan: ‘Ancient Cameron of Erracht’.