MSP COMMENTS AFTER PRESENTING PETITION TO PROTECT FAMOUS POLICE PIPE BAND'S STATUS

MSP COMMENTS AFTER PRESENTING PETITION TO PROTECT FAMOUS POLICE PIPE BAND'S STATUS

Commenting after taking part in a delegation to present a petition to Strathclyde Police's Chief Constable voicing concerns over planned cuts for the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band SNP West of Scotland MSP, Stuart McMillan, said it had been a positive exercise to raise awareness of the concern about the band’s future as a top level competitor.

The petition which has been sponsored by the Piping Times magazine has attracted over 3000 signatures and was presented to Strathclyde Police at their headquarters on Pitt Street in Glasgow.

Speaking after presenting the petition Mr McMillan, a piper himself who has played at Scottish Parliamentary events, said:

"Strathclyde Police Pipe Band is a national treasure which should be celebrated and promoted. As this is the Year of Homecoming it has been disappointing that its future has been in jeopardy.

“I believe today’s exercise was a positive and worthwhile one. It has helped raise awareness of this issue and the level of feeling about one of Scotland’s world famous bands.

"It has to be stressed that the majority of the band are guest players and not serving police officers who could leave the band at any time. They could easily join any other band in the world.

"If further obstacles are placed in the way of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band this could leave the band with only serving police officers who because of various shift patters will find it extremely difficult to practice together.

"The result of this would be that the standards would fall and the bands worldwide stature would suffer. This would adversely affect the reputation of Strathclyde Police as well.

"It is imperative that the future of the band is resolved and I would urge meaningful discussion to take place between all relevant parties. I hope today’s presentation has gone some way to lifting the threat of the band being downgraded."