A journey down Memory Lane all started when someone (and I can’t remember who!) handed me a picture of Branch#94 Pipe Band from the ‘60’s...no names on the back, of course. Whereupon I handed it over to Tom Moffat, who named a few ...who handed it over to Moira Clayton who named the rest ...and then it was tea and cookies at Moira’s as I collected more information on the Pipe Band.
Moira naturally had more pictures and an article from the Cariboo Observer January 1982 who had the story of the origins of that same band.
Copies of those pictures are now at the Museum and the Legion.
The history of Quesnel’s Pipe Band started with Adam Smith and a dedicated band of men (most of whom could not even read a note of music!) It all started in 1953 which makes our pipe band 63 years old. The original members consisted of Adam Smith, Albert Fowlie and Colin McLaughlin as pipers; John Clayton bass drummer and snare drummers Harvey Copeland, Murray Hume and Dave McWhinney. Dave had drummed in a boys’ brass band so he was appointed lead drummer.
The pipers were fine, as they had previous experience and could read music. Not so with the drummers... none of them could read music!
Drummers would listen to a recording of a pipe band and try to copy the accompanying drum section. I do believe there might still be one or two others who do that same thing today!
Over the ensuing years, the Pipe Band has been invited to many special occasions. From piping at funerals to celebrating Robbie Burns Night, the band has been kept busy – Grand Openings, Legion Trades Fairs, Cariboo Highland Games, Billy Barker Days Parade and it seems every major event in town as well as Remembrance Day Services at the Cenotaph.
The band has had its ups and downs, its highs and lows when it comes to membership and participation but it continues on nonetheless. As long as there’s a Scotsman or a wannabe Scot, the pipes will carry on.
For the original story written by Howard Harris, check out the Cariboo Observer digitized version January 27, 1982 on the Quesnel and District Museum and Archives website.
History is only kept alive if there are those who value it and we have many in our community who do just that. But we must make a point of preserving that history which is precisely why the Friends of the Museum have an Oral History Project. Members are only too willing to interview you and/or your family as they record your family’s history in and around Quesnel. Do you or anyone in your family have a story to tell? And don’t forget...saying ”Oh, we only came here in 1964 or...’65” it doesn’t mean you are not part of Quesnel’s history! That was more than 50 years ago. Have your story recorded for posterity. You too are part of history. Call 250-992-9580 to arrange an interview. Do you have pictures to go with it? Great!
And in the words of the immortal bard, Robbie Burns, Oh wad some power the giftie gie us to see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us, and foolish notion.
Hope to see you as you “pass time” at the Quesnel Museum.
Honey Affleck is chair of the Museum Commission and regular Observer contributor.