Life membership medals for Kinneil deserving duo

Congratulations to Ruth Kelly and Dianne Doherty of Kinneil Band on receiving their SBBA life membership medals for over 40 years each of service to brass banding.

The duo were presented with their awards at the band’s Christmas concert at Bo’ness Old Kirk yesterday.

Ruth started playing cornet at the age of 10 and, on moving to Dumfries High School and later the town academy, joined the school bands. In 1984 she became a member of Dumfries Town Band and remained with them while she was a university student in Glasgow, where she also played with Kings Park Brass and the Glasgow Boys Brigade Battalion Band.

In 1989 Ruth moved to Edinburgh and joined Broxburn Public Band on soprano cornet. Three years later she transferred to Hutchison Coaches Newmains Band until its demise in 1995. It was then she joined Kinneil and has played second cornet with them for the past 28 years.  She has also been a committee member and is a former band manager, from 2012 to 2023.

Dianne started playing in 1972 on becoming a secondary school pupil and played in various contests, including the Glasgow Music Festival. In 1976 she joined the former pupils’ band. A short spell with South Side Brass preceded a move to Renfrew Burgh Band. A couple of years later she transferred to Renfrew Burgh, participating in her first Scottish Championships.

Like Ruth, she then played with Newmains before moving to Kinneil 28 years ago.