The History Of The Pipe Band
On Burns' Night, January 25th 1994 a small group of Police and Prison Officers got together to discuss the possibility of creating a Pipe Band within the Emergency Services in the East Midlands. It was soon realised that there were not enough Police Officers to form a big enough Band and so an invitation was extended to all branches of the Emergency Services to include civilian and support staff and their families. The Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police permitted us to call ourselves 'The Nottinghamshire Police Pipe Band'. The Band motto 'amicitta aeterna', was adopted which, freely translated, means everlasting friendship.
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The band is registered with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), 45 Washington Street, Glasgow and is governed by the rules of the Association and takes part in local and Major Pipe Band contests. The band also has it's own Constitution and Rules and we take great care and pride. Quite a few of those present on 25th January 1994 could already play either the Great Highland Bagpipes or the drums and we set about creating a band which would be available for parades and marches in about 2 years (i.e by 1996).
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There was also great interest from a number of personnel within the Emergency Services who wanted to learn to play. Only some 6 moths later however the newly-formed Nottinghamshire Police Pipe Band was asked to perform the grand opening of the annual Nottinghamshire Police Gala Day at the Nottinghamshire Police Training School grounds, Epperston. Not only did the band successfully open the proceedings but we were actually told to stop performing as we were attracting visitors from other attractions at the event. It seemed that we were at last on out way.
The band is self-sufficient and all our equipment (instruments, uniform, travel costs, etc.) are paid for by our own performances. In 1996, thanks to the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, the band received a one-off grant with witch we were able to obtain full No. 1 Dress Uniforms for all members at the time. The tartan that the band wears is Prince Charles Edward Stuart. The band has grown since then and maintaining the required standard of equipment remains a prime struggle for the Committee. In September 2021, the band re-branded and became the Nottinghamshire Pipes & Drums
