Surprise SBBA life memberships for St David’s trio

Congratulations to three members of St David’s Brass who have been presented with Scottish Brass Band Association life membership medals for their lengthy service to the brass banding community.

Soprano cornet Tony Laidlaw and cornet players Morag Currie and Fiona Dickson received their deserved recognition at a joint concert with Penicuik Silver Band last Saturday.

All three were surprised and delighted to be getting the awards and it was St David’s principal cornet, band chairman and Fiona’s son Stuart Dickson (cover photo) who had the honour of making the presentations at the North Kirk, Penicuik, event.

The concert provided the perfect opportunity to mark the players’ contribution to banding as both Tony and Morag had previously been members of Penicuik Silver prior to joining St David’s.

Tony started his playing career with Penicuik Silver in 1971 on both tenor horn and cornet. After some 37 years, he moved to St David’s where he has been soprano cornet for the last 15 years.  He also plays horn and sometimes French horn (the instrument he took up at school) for concerts and ensemble work. For the last 12 years he has performed at various formal occasions as State Trumpeter.

Morag began playing with Long Melford Silver Band in 1983 on cornet and baritone. After six years, she joined Alva Band and subsequently played with Barnoldswick Town, Otley Town, Peebles Burgh, before a short period at Penicuik Silver. Since 2013, she has been a stalwart of the cornet section at St David’s.

Fiona’s first band was Kirkintilloch Silver in the early 1970s on percussion. She has played at the top level of banding as a percussionist with Kinneil, Whitburn and Scottish Co-op. In 2011 she opted to join the rest of her family and move to St David’s, first on percussion, but latterly as a cornet player where she sits beside her grandchildren.

Tony, Fiona and Morag with their SBBA life membership medals