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