Gibraltar Sea Scouts Group

Royal Navy Recognized Sea Scouts Group No. 101

 

 

The Gibraltar Sea Scouts Pipe Band has been in existence for over 90 years. It was started in 1914 as a small band with five pipers a bass drummer and three drummers. Since then the Band has grown in strength and now comprises some 30 musicians with many young Scouts already receiving tuition. 

The first recorded outing as a band was in (1920) when it attended the first World Jamboree held in the United Kingdom. Among its pipers it proudly records the name of Pipe Major Rob Roy, the legendary piper of Tobruk, who during his tour of duty on the Rock played with the band and tutored its members.

During their tour of duty in Gibraltar, members of the band of the Royal Irish Rangers spent many hours of their spare time tutoring the pipers and drummers of the Sea Scouts Pipe Band and without doubt the present standards of the band are due to their commitment. Even today, more than thirty years later there are still close contacts with their now retired musicians and in particular their Pipe Major Albert Price, who recently came over to Gibraltar to present the band with the Regiment’s new Brigade Music Book. 

The band has performed in many festivals and events outside Gibraltar including  Scotland where the band played at the Blair Atholl International Scout Jamborette.

In Spain, playing for scouting events, the St.Patrick’s Day celebrations held by the Irish community of ex-patriots and the day of all Nations held in the Costa del Sol.

We have also played for a vast variety of events held in different municipalities in the surrounding area and in Asturias for the Celtic Festival, were the band is twined with the Pipes and Drums of Corvera.

The Band has also had the privilege of been invited to Morocco, to play for the King’s birthday celebrations.

 

Over these 90 years the band has played a prominent part in Gibraltar’s social calendar, participating in numerous events throughout the year. The band participates every year at the Three King’s Cavalcade held locally on the 5^th January, and all Scouting events held during the Year. It also plays a prominent part in different community events held in Gibraltar.

The band has grown during the years due to the commitment of its members it is comprised of members from the Gibraltar Sea Scout Group including Leaders and Assistants Leaders and continues to count with a substantial number of young scouts in its ranks and others that will be joining the band as full members as soon as they are ready.  

In 1999 the band decided to change its uniform, from the traditional Sea Scout uniform to one comprising of a military style jacket & trousers, which became a success with both band members and members of the public.

This new Uniform greatly enhanced the appearance of the Band with a more modern and elegant attire that has given the Band a wider acclaim by Organisations within and outside Gibraltar to request our attendance in different and festivals and shows.

The band now has a brand new uniform, which is more commonly known as the Scottish Number 2 dress, or Scottish civilian uniform. It consists of an Argyle type jacket and waistcoat with a kilt in the Flower of Scotland tartan & ghillie brogues. This new uniform has had an incredible effect and has boosted the band's appearance, as well as many other aspects, by a lot. A photo of the new uniform is up on the homepage, "News & Updates".

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