Sudbury and District Pipe Band

early history to 1967

Reminiscing of an earlier Pipe Major, John Ross, circa 1967

Sudbury and District Pipe Band

And my years with it as a member

To go back to the forming of the band some 45 years ago, it would be well to refer to five years earlier, to a pipe band at that time in the Town of Copper Cliff, which as far as I am aware was connected with and was part of the Copper Cliff Highland cadets corps. The personnel of the senior band were mainly members of Nickel Company police force: pipe Major John Mackay, Pipers A. Bruce, A. Nickles, W. J. Stewart, bass drummer John Elliot, and side drummers whose names I cannot recall. Most of these men have gone to their reward except Piper Stewart who now resides in Valleyfield, P.Q. My reason for citing these facts are that I may refer back to the bass drummer John Elliot who eventually joined the Sudbury police force after the Copper Cliff band had, for some reason of which I have no knowledge, disbanded.

Bass drummer John Elliot was aware of the fact that there was some band equipment in storage used by this band. And, as certain Scots in Sudbury were desirous of forming a pipe band to work in conjunction with a newly formed Caledonian society, contacted members of the cadets corps re this equipment and eventually bought same. The Sudbury Caledonian pipe band was duly formed with believe it or not two Pipers and a bass drummer, the same John Elliot, with of course, a full slate of officers to carry on the business of the band. But, entirely free from any sponsorship or other strings connected with the newly formed Caledonian society other than the name and that one of the band members would be Piper to the society when occasion called, and that the band would be available to take part in any of their functions.

As time went on, other Pipers became available and were gladly welcomed into the organization and the band grew accordingly. Through dances, Turkey draws and donations, funds were made available to purchase more equipment, pipes, uniforms, etc., and things were moving along well. The band had a few engagements and were on the road to better things. However, at this stage, when everything was sailing along in fine shape, a representative of the Sons of Scotland Benefits Society arrived in Sudbury and proceeded to organize all Scots in Sudbury and District into the S.O.S. which sounded the death knell of the Caledonian society although every person connected with it was in perfect accord with the move. Any funds held by the then defunct Caledonian society was turned over to the band which decided to carry on, and a meeting of persons concerned was held to this end. It was decided that the band would be called the Sudbury and District Pipe Band and a new slate of officers was appointed to carry on the affairs of the newly formed band.

As time went on, more Pipers and Drummers arrived in the district and a fair Band was an operation under the leadership of Pipe Major McKay who hailed from Toronto but learned his piping in Glasgow, Scotland. He carried on for some time and the band made some improvement under his tutorship. Eventually he went on his way to join an Irish pipe band in Toronto. Another piping enthusiast, Bill Hawkins, who came from Renfrew, Ontario, then took over and a band carried on for sometime under him as pipe major until he left Sudbury again for Renfrew and played in the pipe band in that town. Then the spark plug of the band, John Elliot, who by this time had forsaken the bass drum and latched on to the chanter and drone, took over as pipe major. Things were not too good in regard to employment and the band was down to a few members that carried on until things began to pick up again when a few more Pipers arrived on the scene including the brothers Bill and John Livingstone who now live in Copper Cliff, and another Piper, Ted Gibbons, all of whom learned their piping in Scotland.

By this time the band had a bass drummer, a well-known gentleman in Sudbury and district named David Gorrie, a salesman for a local concern and who learned his drumming technique, you guessed it, from John Elliott. And through doing business in and throughout the district, had many contacts and was able to get a few engagements for the band which helped considerably to keep things on an even keel during this period.

Then Bill Livingstone took over as pipe major and under his tutelage there was quite an improvement in the playing ability of the band, and there was a good turnout on all occasions. Bill now decided he would shake the dust of Sudbury from his shoes and once again the band was left without a pipe major. After which, yours truly took over as Pipe Major and carried on for a time until a few others were to some extent at least, learned in the art of piping and a band could function as a unit. Bill Livingstone had returned again to Sudbury and was asked to take the band over again, which he proceeded to do and the band now became affiliated with the militia regiment in Sudbury and supplied the music to that regiment when necessary.

By this time there was quite large number of Pipers and drummers both old and young. Then came the Second World War. The band broke up to a certain extent and most of the members who were in a proper age group joined the Air Force band under Bill Livingstone and moved to their allotted station in Nova Scotia. The older members then took up with the civilian guards, formed at that time, and led them in parade when asked to do so, but still held onto their identity as the Sudbury and District Pipe Band.

Ted Gibbons who returned to Sudbury from Victoria Mine now took over as pipe major and the band carried on under him for some time until his health gave way and he had to quit playing pipes. By this time, the Pipers who had joined the Air Force band had been demobbed and return to Sudbury and Henry Craig, a Piper who left with the band to join the Air Force, took over as pipe major and some more young lads were duly coached in the art of piping by patient Henry and became affiliated with the Royal Canadian Legion, Sudbury branch. This arrangement did not work out satisfactorily and the band decided to return to their old status -- reorganize under their old name and carry on as an independent group as before -- which, at this writing they are now doing and are yet in the process of reorganizing with some 12 or more young boys taking lessons in the art of piping under Henry Craig and some of the other members of the band giving a helping hand. The band meetings were in the Mine Mill Hall, by their kind permission, which is certainly a fine gesture in their part, and certainly appreciated.

Many amusing incidents during my years with the band took place. At one time we enlisted the piping talents of a gypsy Piper who inform me he learned his piping behind a whin Bush (Gorse). We found him a job and on his first pay day he got into a fight in a Sudbury restaurant and started a barrage of salt and pepper shakers, aiming at all and sundry, and flew the coop as it was too hot for him to remain in town. On another occasion, the band was playing in some affair where they had to march on to a wharf to meet some dignitary and one Piper was so taken up with what he was playing he marched right into the lake, pipes in all. On another occasion, another Piper playing solo on a house veranda, walked off the end into a thorny Rose Bush -- minus anything on under his kilt. Then again -- the band was taking part in a military funeral, walking and playing a very slow funeral dirge -- the streets were in an icy condition, no salt in those days, and a Piper who weighed over 200 pounds, slipped and fell. On my inquiry later if he had hurt himself, he replied in the negative but remarked " Sure! I came down like a ton of bricks, so I did. But be hevins, we niver missed a noot". Another young lad on starting up to learn the pipes on a chanter provided by his grandfather, pointed the chanter to the ceiling of the room and with a faraway look in his eyes remarked "I am a snake charmer". He never learned to play.

On another occasion, a young boy about ten years of age arrived at my home and was very keen to learn the art of piping. Given a chanter and a few pointers as to how to proceed, he suddenly paused in his efforts and asked, "Say mister, when do I get the suit?" -- he never returned.

On the whole, my years with the Sudbury and District Pipe Band have been years of good fellowship with many happy memories of friends past and present. Long may the band continue to huff and puff -- is my sincere wish.

John Ross.

John Ross was a retired blacksmith who was employed by CP rail with the road maintenance group. He returned to Cromarty Scotland in 1967 and passed away in 1984. He was 94 years of age.

For the history of the Band since 1967.

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This page updated: March 17th, 2000.