The 25th Belfast Company are the only BB Company in Ireland to have their own Pipe Band, we consider ourselves very fortunate for this.

The history of this band goes back to 1934, when the company won the Belfast Battalion Junior Squad Drill Shield. The squad then paraded proudly back to their company headquarters at Cregagh Methodist Church holding their newly won trophy. The next morning in bible class, the Captain Mr. George Boyd announced that the company was going to start a band. Bars of chocolate were sold to help raise the funds and in 1935 the company pipe band went on parade. It is not known, but assumed that there was a member of the congregation who had piping experience, hence the setting up of a pipe band, rather than the usual bugle band for BB companies.

Down through the years the band has played and paraded at many events. The company has been extremely proud when at annual camp to have the band ‘up front’. Camps such as Enniskillen, Jersey, Southport, Lytham St. Annes, Ayr, Dawlish and Swanage. During the Second World War the band was stopped as a number of the boys were evacuated to the country and restarted in 1944.

When Glenburn Methodist Church was laying its foundation stone the band led the contingent of members from Cregagh Methodist to the official ceremony in 1953. In 1976 the company was very fortunate to obtain a full set of kilts at a ‘knock down price’ from the Essey Musical Store. The tartan was imitation Red Gordon.

In the BB centenary year of 1983, the band led the parade of the National Brigade President into Ballymoney Showgrounds for the Northern Ireland District celebrations.

Support has been received from other local Pipe Bands i.e. East Belfast, North Belfast, Gilnahirk, Pipes and Drums 7/10 Ulster Defence Regiment and finally the Pipes and Drums 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment. To name some of the staff who instructed the band are Messers Jim Conway (Junior & Senior), Jimmy and Maurice Reid, Dickie Farmer, Peter Jewhurst, Winston Pollock, Eddie Montgomery and the latest company Pipe Major is Mr. Alan Taggart (son of the present Company Captain).

For a Boys’ Brigade Company there is a serious amount of money needed to finance such an activity. An activity which the present officers are determined to maintain – as already stated we are now the only Boys’ Brigade pipe band in Ireland.

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There was a very proud day in October 2003 when Our band massed with the Pipes and Drums of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment.

The photograph above was taken at the March Past at our 2003 Enrolment Service. What an occasion.

The two bands continued to Mass for our Enrolment Service in continuing years.

2004

2005

2006

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Photo from the Boys' Brigade annual Christmas Parade in Belfast City Centre 2004.

 

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Our band also took part in the North Belfast Girls' Brigade District parade service 2006.

 

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On Sunday 28th October 2007 during our Enrolment service our new kilts & drums were dedicated by our Company Chaplain the Rev. Dr. Brian Fletcher. The trustees of Bangor Caledonia Pipe Band which had folded 3 years earlier kindly donated their surplus kilts and drums to our company.

The tartan is the Hunting Stewart of Appin. The replacement project cost £2,000, half of this money was given by the Co-Op Community Dividend Scheme and BT Staff Charity fund.

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Our band was on parade at the Belfast Battalion Annual Parade Services on Sunday 6th April 2008. The service was held in the Spires Centre and the minister was an old boy of the 25th - Rev. Brian Anderson. Congratulations to all band members on an excellent turn out, helping to raise the profile around Boys Brigade circles of our company.