THE HISTORY OF THE BAND

The London Fire Fighters Pipe Band was officially established on January 1, 2003. However, the band actually has quite a long and distinguished lineage as one of Ontario's oldest pipe bands.

The band was originally created in 1921 as the St. Thomas Legion Branch 41 Pipe Band, by several of the great names in piping at the time. During the 1920s and 1930s, the band enjoyed rival status to the world famous 48th Highlanders of Canada, and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, of Toronto and Hamilton respectively.

Many of the band's members were called to serve during the Second World War, and the band fell into limbo during that time. It reformed in 1957, and for a short time moved to the Aylmer Legion, competing at the Grade II level until after the 1960 season, when it moved up to Grade I.

In 1963, the band amalgamated with the Chrysler Highlanders, and represented the Chrysler Corporation at many events across North America. In 1964, it returned to the St. Thomas Legion, until becoming the St. Thomas Police Association Pipe Band in 1968.

The band travelled to Scotland in 1971, earning a ranking of 10th overall in the world by placing 2nd at Rosse, and 3rd at Meadowbrook. In 1973, the World Champion Edinburgh Police Pipe Band visited North America, and asked the St. Thomas band to accompany them on the Canadian leg of their tour.

In 1976, the Robert MacNish Distillery of Scotland decided to sponsor a pipe band outside the United Kingdom, and selected the St. Thomas band, based on its excellent reputation. They chose wisely, as in 1977 the MacNish Distillery Pipe Band won Champion Supreme in Grade I for Ontario, as the top Grade I band in the province. They also toured Scotland where they placed 1st at Peebles, and 2nd at Edinburgh's Princess Street Gardens. Later that same year the band released a record album titled simply "MacNish Distillery Pipe Band Volume I", which was said to be the finest pipe band recording of its time.

In 1978, the band competed in Alma, Michigan, where it won its fifth consecutive U.S. Open Pipe Band Championship.

"MacNish Distillery Pipe Band Volume II" was released in 1981, and the following year, the band was honoured to be selected to perform at the 150th Anniversary celebrations of the Rideau Canal in Kingston, Ontario. The band visited Santa Rosa, California, for a successful 1983 tour, and again in 1987 when it won the set competition one day, and the medley contest the next.

Meanwhile, 1984 and 1985 saw the completion of "MacNish Distillery Pipe Band Volume III", which is still widely available on CD, alongside releases by many of the top pipe bands from around the world.

The band's agreement with MacNish expired in 1987, and the band assumed the name ScotsAire. In 1991, the band returned to its roots and became simply the St. Thomas Pipe Band. The St. Thomas Police Service became a sponsor the following year, and the band adopted the moniker St. Thomas Police Pipe Band.

ST. THOMAS POLICE PIPE BAND - GRADE I

Pipe Major John Cairns   -   Lead Drummer Tom Robinson

The British Columbia Indoor Contest was the destination in 1994, where St. Thomas Police finished second to the two-time World Champions, Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. In 1995 the band travelled to the east coast, placing first in Grade I. And in 1996, St. Thomas Police competed against the world's best Grade I pipe bands, at the World Championships in Scotland.

More recently, many of the band's Grade I players moved on, and once again as the St. Thomas Pipe Band, it concentrated on developing new members at various skill levels, and competing in Grade III and Grade V. In 2002, its last year under the St. Thomas name, the Grade V band triumphed as Canadian Champions, North American Champions, and Champion Supreme.

The London Fire Fighters Pipe Band will once again be competing in Grade IV in the 2008 Highland Games season. In addition, the band plans to form a Grade V band to offer opportunities to a wider range of players. To complement this band, a Piping & Drumming School program has been developed, which will offer free instruction to pipers and drummers, under the leadership of John Cairns and Stu Liddell. The band also continues to perform in parades, ceremonies, and community events throughout southwestern Ontario.

The London Fire Fighters Pipe Band is proud to be sponsored by the London Professional Fire Fighters Association (LPFFA), the bargaining unit for employees of the London Fire Department. The LPFFA was established in 1918 as Local 142 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, and represents approximately 375 full-time fire fighters and officers, communications operators, fire inspectors, support staff, and administrative personnel. The band is not affiliated with, or supported by, the London Fire Department or the Corporation of the City of London.

The band's logo is centered around the maltese cross of the London Professional Fire Fighters Association. The band wears the Ancient MacLean of Duart tartan.