09/02/2022
**Band News**
RACPADS (Grade 3B) are excited to announce their new sponsorship with Invergordon Distillery.
Invergordon Distillery is based at Invergordon in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Building for the distillery began in 1959, in 1960 work within the building began, employees being employed along with an idea of a pipe band. It started producing whisky in July 1961 and is owned by Whyte and Mackay. Along with Tamnavulin, Dalmore, Jura and Fettercairn distilleries.
Many of you may remember the 'original' Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band, and the success they had in the 1960's especially in 1967 when they won all the Grade 1 major competitions apart from the world championships. At this time, they had some extremely high calibre of individual players, you may be aware of them Donald Shaw Ramsey, John D Burgess, Trevor Dear, Alex Duthart and Kit Reynolds.
Presently Racpads is graded at 3B and are under the leadership of Pipe Major Niall Matheson, Pipe Sgt Colin Melville and leading drummer Roy Hamilton, all of whom have had great success individually and in Pipe Bands in Scotland and around the world.
A statement from our chairperson John Weatherston.
I was fortunate to be part of Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band, I joined there at 12 years old and began my drumming journey by getting taught by Kit Reynolds. As I am still an active drummer within RACPADS I myself know how expensive it is to run a pipe band with costs for uniform, instruments, and buses to the competitions, it all adds up very quickly. Having this sponsorship will help ease the pressure and let us concentrate on our music. Maybe one day we will make it as big as the original Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band. Until then we are going to work hard and have a band in the area that the community will be proud off.
At this time RACPADS are still actively looking for members to expand the band. If interested please contact us either through our social media, contact out chairperson directly on 07803364280, or speak with any pipe band member.