Pipe Band Contest

The skirl of the pipes and the rattle of drums echoed in Gladstone Road on a sunny Saturday in February when eight bands taking part in the Wellington Provincial Pipe Band Contest marched briskly through many hundreds of spectators lining the street, bringing a tingle of excitement to young and old, be they Scot or not.

From the starting point near the Post Office, the bands marched to the Central School grounds for dress inspection. In the afternoon, marching events were held at the showgrounds, and the music contest was at the reserve in the evening.

Many spectators retreated between bands to the cool shade of shop verandahs, returning at regular intervals to crane down-street for a better view of proceedings. Others took advantage of high-level viewpoints, at office windows, on hotel balconies, or on verandahs.

were rewarded with views like that taken looking down Gladstone Road from the verandah of radio station 2Xg.

Dannevirke High School band, winners of the C. grade open inspection championship, on the wheel point at the intersection of Gladstone Road and Grey Street.

The crowd opens out as the Feilding band marches up Gladstone Road. Wheel point is at extreme right of picture.

Gisborne band in the street march. The band won the open staff flourishing event (Drum-Major R. Grant), won the C grade dress contest, and was runner-up for the C grade championship.

Gisborne was en fete for the occasion, with flags flying and people in the streets. Provincial officials afterwards expressed high praise for the hospitality extended to visiting bands and for the arrangements made here for the contest.

The one-armed drum major, Colin MacDonald, leading Dannevirke District band past army judges to win the dress contest. This band also won the drum major's display.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 9 : March 31, 1955

Pipe Band Contest