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Ellesmere Highland Pipe Band (Early Days)
Description
NameEllesmere Highland Pipe Band
DescriptionBeginning in 1920 'with only enthusiasm as their stock-in-trade', the members of the Ellesmere Highland Pipe Band “have worked themselves into an organisation that would be a credit to any' district in the Dominion”.
Their first engagement in April 1920 was at the Leeston Parochial District Harvest Bazaar.
In a little over twelve months the band collected £400 towards the cost of a set of uniforms, but by 1922 £100 was still to be found. To raise the rest of the money they advertised a dance in the spacious grain store at Farmers’ Co-op, Lake Rd Store. "Owing to harvest operations many dancers were late in arriving, and it was decided to postpone the grand march until after supper.
The building was well arranged for the function and, owing to its spaciousness, made an ideal ballroom.
At intervals throughout the evening the Pipe Band, in full uniform, marched round the building playing stirring marches.
Another dance followed at Killinchy later in the year and before the year was out they organised another dance this time at the Farmers’ Co-op Grain Store in Irwell.
In August 1922, at a house-warming party, they played on the lawn of A. Withell’s house.
Together with the Ellesmere Brass Band, they put 'vim and life' into the 1922 A&P Show at Leeston.
In 1923 they were again playing on a lawn, this time at the home of Mr and Mrs H. Winchester at Lakeside for nearly 50 guests.
They also played at the reopening of the Killinchy Hall after repairs and they crossed the Selwyn River to head a procession of the Orange Lodge at Springston in November 1923.
The Leeston Hotel fire in 1923 destroyed the band’s minute book and all other records so in September 1924 they met to assess their financial position.
The Southbridge Athletic Club invited them to attend their 1924 Labour Day sports meeting.
By 1925 the band must have been in a depressed state as the Ellesmere Guardian reported that at the 1925 Ellesmere A&P Show “the Ellesmere Brass Band enlivened the day with music, and also present were the remnants of the band reinforced by several pipers from Christchurch”. However they also played at the 1925 Boxing Day, Doyleston Athletic Club sports meeting, at Osborne Park.
At the 1926 AGM 17 members attended and while they had £64 debt it was hoped that this could be paid off in the next 12 months.
The band greatly improved after reorganisation and enlistment of new members, and played in full strength at the 1926 Labour Day, Southbridge Sports.
Later in the year they played at the Ellesmere Aquatic Club’s New Year’s Day regatta at Lake Ellesmere after a night of carolling.
The band played in the Dunsandel Domain in early 1927 and in the evening at a bazaar to raise funds to add to the Sedgemere Hall.
Both Ellesmere bands played at the 1927 A&P Show and “contributed no small share to the gaiety of the fair.”
There was ill feeling against a party of brass instrumentalists from Christchurch who carried out Christmas carolling in the local patch and tricked residents into giving money that should have come to the local bands.
In 1928 the band and the Ellesmere Brass Band alternated playing at Coe’s Ford during summer.
After receiving payment for attending the previous two years at the Labour Day Southbridge Sports meeting, the band was again in attendance in 1928.
Even after being refused a donation, the band was at the 1928 Doyleston Sports, Boxing Day meeting.
Several members of the band played at the very large funeral of John Cunningham in October 1928.
Again both Ellesmere bands played at the wet 1928 A&P Show and only the Pipe Band was present at the Labour Day meeting of the Southbridge Sports which had ideal weather.
They also agreed to play at the Courtenay A&P Show.
When discussing engaging the Pipe Band for the Dunsandel Sports meeting, one member commented that "Every time we get the Ellesmere Pipe Band they seem to have a "wake" the night before and let us down”.
The spirit of gaiety was abetted by the presence of both Ellesmere bands, which played alternately at the 1929 A&P Show at Leeston.
Members of the band were encouraged to attend the Southbridge, Sedgemere and Little Rakaia Schools’ 1929 annual picnic to Corsair Bay, by the offer of free tickets.
In June 1932, the band went into recess and the equipment into storage.
DescriptionBeginning in 1920 'with only enthusiasm as their stock-in-trade', the members of the Ellesmere Highland Pipe Band “have worked themselves into an organisation that would be a credit to any' district in the Dominion”. Their first engagement in April 1920 was at the Leeston Parochial District Harvest Bazaar.
In a little over twelve months the band collected £400 towards the cost of a set of uniforms, but by 1922 £100 was still to be found. To raise the rest of the money they advertised a dance in the spacious grain store at Farmers’ Co-op, Lake Rd Store. "Owing to harvest operations many dancers were late in arriving, and it was decided to postpone the grand march until after supper.
The building was well arranged for the function and, owing to its spaciousness, made an ideal ballroom.
At intervals throughout the evening the Pipe Band, in full uniform, marched round the building playing stirring marches.
Another dance followed at Killinchy later in the year and before the year was out they organised another dance this time at the Farmers’ Co-op Grain Store in Irwell.
In August 1922, at a house-warming party, they played on the lawn of A. Withell’s house.
Together with the Ellesmere Brass Band, they put 'vim and life' into the 1922 A&P Show at Leeston.
In 1923 they were again playing on a lawn, this time at the home of Mr and Mrs H. Winchester at Lakeside for nearly 50 guests.
They also played at the reopening of the Killinchy Hall after repairs and they crossed the Selwyn River to head a procession of the Orange Lodge at Springston in November 1923.
The Leeston Hotel fire in 1923 destroyed the band’s minute book and all other records so in September 1924 they met to assess their financial position.
The Southbridge Athletic Club invited them to attend their 1924 Labour Day sports meeting.
By 1925 the band must have been in a depressed state as the Ellesmere Guardian reported that at the 1925 Ellesmere A&P Show “the Ellesmere Brass Band enlivened the day with music, and also present were the remnants of the band reinforced by several pipers from Christchurch”. However they also played at the 1925 Boxing Day, Doyleston Athletic Club sports meeting, at Osborne Park.
At the 1926 AGM 17 members attended and while they had £64 debt it was hoped that this could be paid off in the next 12 months.
The band greatly improved after reorganisation and enlistment of new members, and played in full strength at the 1926 Labour Day, Southbridge Sports.
Later in the year they played at the Ellesmere Aquatic Club’s New Year’s Day regatta at Lake Ellesmere after a night of carolling.
The band played in the Dunsandel Domain in early 1927 and in the evening at a bazaar to raise funds to add to the Sedgemere Hall.
Both Ellesmere bands played at the 1927 A&P Show and “contributed no small share to the gaiety of the fair.”
There was ill feeling against a party of brass instrumentalists from Christchurch who carried out Christmas carolling in the local patch and tricked residents into giving money that should have come to the local bands.
In 1928 the band and the Ellesmere Brass Band alternated playing at Coe’s Ford during summer.
After receiving payment for attending the previous two years at the Labour Day Southbridge Sports meeting, the band was again in attendance in 1928.
Even after being refused a donation, the band was at the 1928 Doyleston Sports, Boxing Day meeting.
Several members of the band played at the very large funeral of John Cunningham in October 1928.
Again both Ellesmere bands played at the wet 1928 A&P Show and only the Pipe Band was present at the Labour Day meeting of the Southbridge Sports which had ideal weather.
They also agreed to play at the Courtenay A&P Show.
When discussing engaging the Pipe Band for the Dunsandel Sports meeting, one member commented that "Every time we get the Ellesmere Pipe Band they seem to have a "wake" the night before and let us down”.
The spirit of gaiety was abetted by the presence of both Ellesmere bands, which played alternately at the 1929 A&P Show at Leeston.
Members of the band were encouraged to attend the Southbridge, Sedgemere and Little Rakaia Schools’ 1929 annual picnic to Corsair Bay, by the offer of free tickets.
In June 1932, the band went into recess and the equipment into storage.
Photographer Steffano Webb,
Courtesy of Colin Patterson
Ellesmere Historical Society EHS-0958
Connections
CollectionOutdoor Bands in EllesmereOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyEllesmere Highland Pipe Band (Early Days). Selwyn Stories, accessed 04/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6393
