Letter
to the Editor
The Southland Times
December 28, 1998
HAVING
just recently returned from travelling overseas this letter
is a
little belated. However, we felt we must publicly praise
the members of the City of Invercargill Pipe Band for
their tremendous performance at the
Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August.
Along with friends, we attended this magnificent event
and we watched with great pride our own band along with
the City of Dunedin Pipe Band matching the competency,
precision and musical expertise of some of the best bands
in the world.
Invercargill, New Zealand, was mentioned on several occasions
during the evening (of course we cheered loudly) and also
the fact that the Caledonian Pipe Band is claimed to be
the oldest pipe band in the Southern Hemisphere, which
met with great acclamation.
Being of Scottish descent we are naturally receptive to
pipe bands, but it is difficult to find words to describe
this experience.
It was an incredible evening. The atmosphere was electric,
the crowd was excited and the programme was everything
we were led to expect.However, no one can prepare you
for the feeling of pride and emotion at being able to
claim one of those bands as being from home.Our congratulations
to all those involved in assisting the band to attend
this prestigious event and our thanks and admiration to
the members of the band for the hours of practice and
commitment that must have gone into their performance.
Lesley and Colin Gray Invercargill