Individual stories that made the championships a memorable experience

Aside from the keen competition and friendly rivalry among the bands at last weekend’s Scottish Championships, there were some individual stories that surfaced during the course of the event.

People talk a lot about ‘band families’ but there were a couple of banding families in Perth boasting three generations of players on stage at the same time.

Langholm Town Band has had a well-established banding dynasty for some time, from back row cornet player David Calvert to his son John on Eb bass and daughter-in-law Christine on flugel to their children Ashleigh and John who are both cornet players.

But a newer triple generation outfit emerged on Saturday when St David’s Brass competed in the Second Section. Conductor John A Dickson was joined on stage by his wife Fiona, sons Michael who plays solo euphonium and Stuart on principal cornet and Stuart’s daughter 10 years old Mila.

Mila has been playing for just 18 months and her place in the band is right next to her grandmother Fiona on third cornet.

Three generations of the Dickson family about to go on stage: Michael, Stuart and John with Mila and Fiona

The Dickson family with St David's Brass: Fiona and Mila on 3rd cornet, principal cornet Stuart and conductor John. Michael is out of the picture

Music may be the food of love, but without the sustenance provided by one person at Scottish contests for some two decades, Scottish Brass Band Association events like the championships could very possibly have ground to a halt!

After virtually single-handedly providing the catering behind the scenes at contests for the officials, adjudicators, guests, volunteers, helpers and press for the past 20 years or so, Helen Gray decided it was time to hang up her apron.

It was an outstanding stint of service which SBBA was only too pleased to recognise on Sunday when Helen was presented with an honorary membership medal by president Carrie Boax and secretary Tom Allan.

Another medal recipient – this time a life membership award in recognition of 50 years of service to the brass banding movment – was presented to Unison Kinneil Band’s bass trombonist David Frame.

He has been a member of many bands during his playing career – from West Calder Junior Band and Fauldhouse Miners Youth to Whitburn, Newtongrange, Kingdom Brass, Kirkintilloch and Kinneil.

Banding highlights have been playing in the 2011 European Championships in Montreux with Kingdom, the 2015 British Open with Kirkintilloch and winning the First Section national title with Kinneil in 2019.

David has also tried his hand as an adjudicator and conductor during a very active and rewarding banding career.