History of the Band

Rowena Merryck David Brash John Needham Tom Lowe Richard Bromley Jack Walker Gordon Kyle Les Woods Pauline Murphy Nigle Ballie Alison Graham Allan Wardrope Marion Brackpool Bartje Simonis Scott Morrice Fraser Wilson Julie Soutar Alan Wilson Heather Kerr-Smith Allan Ramsay Willie Tennent Debbie Newby David Laughland Ken Ramsay Alister Boag Paul Malloy Pat Murray Colin Leggett Robert Richardson Peter Fraser MBE

The Kirkintilloch Band started off as a Rechabite band, campaigning against the excesses of 'the demon drink'. However, music making proved to be thirsty work, and the band left the Rechabite movement in 1910. It was the late forties before the Band became seriously involved in competitions, with its first successes coming under conductor Hugh Forbes. The Band gained promotion to the 2nd Section in the early sixties when conducted by Peter Wilson, now managing editor of "The British Bandsman";. Success continued under conductor Alex Fleming, the Band were promoted to the Championship Section and competed in the British Championships at London's Royal Albert Hall for the first time in 1968. On that occasion they were conducted by Robert Oughton.

In the mid seventies the band won the BBC Scotland Fanfare Competition two years in succession under the leadership of David James. The band made its first radio broadcast during this period, and has since made many radio broadcasts and TV appearances.
In 1982 the band progressed under Richard Evans , then at the end of 1983 Prof. Walter Hargreaves took over as Musical Director. This was the start of the band's most successful period, winning the Scottish Championships consecutively in 1984 and 1985. The band appeared on BBC's "Best of Brass" and represented Scotland at the European Championships in Copenhagen and Cardiff, as well as the British Championships.
Peter Fraser & Willie Tennent with Prof. Walter Hargreaves

Frank Renton, then Director of Music at Kneller Hall, the Royal Military School of Music, was appointed as Musical Director in 1990. It was fitting in the Band's Centenary year that they won the Scottish Championships for the third time, representing Scotland at the European Championships in Rotterdam and again at the British Championships. The band also won the 1990 Meadowline Scottish Challenge, a competition recorded live for BBC Radio Scotland.

Since recording its first CD, "Brass O' Scotland" in 1992, the band has had a highly consistent period. Under the direction of Charles Keenan, the band won the Whitburn (1993, 1994), Strathclyde Charities (1993, 1994) and Cumbrian Band Association (1994, 1995) Contests. The band's consistent performance in Scottish contests meant they also won the title "Scottish Band of the Year" in 1993 and 1994. The band represented Scotland at the European Championships in Luxembourg for a fourth time in 1995.

The band was awarded 4th place at the National Brass Band Finals in the Royal Albert Hall in 1997and won the prestigious Grand Shield Contest in 2001

The band continues its high musical standard under resident conductor, Allan Ramsay, appointed in 1996, and are looking forward to continued success in the future.

Self supporting since its formation, the band gratefully acknowledges the financial support it receives from East Dunbartonshire Council.
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