The Pipes and Drums
of
British Caledonian Airways
(Part 4)
of
British Caledonian Airways
(Part 4)
Please, if you have any photo's you can share or show on this site, please drop me aline anytime, email Dave
Our last engagement was playing at a large Military Tattoo in Hong Kong where the Band led on the final parade of 3 Gurkha Pipe Band and the Band of the Coldstream Guards - a truly memorable occasion for me as the Drum Major.
From Hong Kong we were flown to Taiwan to play at the Hilton Hotel, where we were subsequently hired by the Hilton Group to play for a gathering to top Chinese officials and American businessmen.
On the way home we were told that BA had taken over BCal and we had a battle to get our tickets as we were not airline employees and thus travelling at BCal’s gift. We did manage to get home and at a meeting soon after in the Copthorne Hotel we were told that BA did not hold with the Scottish image and we thus were not needed. We were allowed to keep our uniforms and instruments but the band could not go on without sponsorship in its current form.
So that ended 19 years of Pipes and Drums for Caledonian, Caledonian//BUA and British Caledonian .......unforgettable times.
From Hong Kong we were flown to Taiwan to play at the Hilton Hotel, where we were subsequently hired by the Hilton Group to play for a gathering to top Chinese officials and American businessmen.
On the way home we were told that BA had taken over BCal and we had a battle to get our tickets as we were not airline employees and thus travelling at BCal’s gift. We did manage to get home and at a meeting soon after in the Copthorne Hotel we were told that BA did not hold with the Scottish image and we thus were not needed. We were allowed to keep our uniforms and instruments but the band could not go on without sponsorship in its current form.
So that ended 19 years of Pipes and Drums for Caledonian, Caledonian//BUA and British Caledonian .......unforgettable times.
My thanks indeed go to Drum Major Mike Sterling for all his help and assistance with this feature
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| ....in Dubai | ......in Abidijan (Ivory Coast) | ......in Houston - Texas | ......outside the Astrodome - Houston |
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| .......in Coney Island, New York | ........in Paris | ........back at Gatwick |
The Pipes and Drums of British Caledonian at the British Championships in 1984 which they won. The Pipe Major was Harry McNulty and Lead Drummer was Alex Duthart.
Below the Band with some of their awards.
Below the Band with some of their awards.
Over the years, The Pipes and Drums of British Caledonian met and played for many important people, not least Pope John Paul II.
Above Mike Sterling and Manager Italy Bruno Henning met the Pope while members of the Band play.
To the right is Mike with one of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican and the Band parade through St. Peter's Square
Above Mike Sterling and Manager Italy Bruno Henning met the Pope while members of the Band play.
To the right is Mike with one of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican and the Band parade through St. Peter's Square
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Mike leads the parade at the Chiang Kai-Shek memorial in Taipai - Taiwan in 1988
......and now we go around the world with The Pipes & Drums of British Caledonian
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......and though technically not a world destination......here is the Band with Mr Bob Hope
Don't forget to see all the other Pipes & Drum pages in Special Features
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