A Brief History of the Hampshire Caledonian Pipe Band

The band was originally formed during late 1987, at the request of about 10 or so pipers, drummers and supporters who had gathered for a meeting in the Seagull Public Bar in Porchester Hampshire. They asked the late Pipe Major Archibald Cross (Archie Cross) to consider starting up a pipe band and so the band came into being.

Archie was unanimously elected as the Pipe Major and Joe MacDonald as the Drum Major and Secretary. Both men had served in the Queens Own Highlanders for many years and had held those positions whilst serving in the regiment.

Mr Frank Radcliffe who is a very keen supporter, although not a playing member, of the band undertook the original job of Treasurer and he also gave the band its original name of the "Tulloch Ard Pipe Band" (High on a Green Hill). The Band also adopted the Prince Charles Edward Stuart tartan with daywear rig. The significance of Prince Charles Edward Stuart Tartan is attributed to the 2nd Battalion Cameron Highlanders who adopted this tartan in recognition of the section of the CAMERON clan who were "OUT" with prince CHARLIE'S Jacobite ARMY during the 1745 rebellion.

The original band held it's initial practices in the Porchester Community Centre and these later moved to the Tichfield Community Centre and the Colden Common Village Hall. The change of venues was due purely to finances and not due to the quality of our playing!

In 1991 the band moved to the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service H/Q in Eastleigh nr SOUTHAMPTON, where it joined forces with the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE (HF&RS) Drum Corps. The band then adopted the title and cap badge of the "HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE PIPES & DRUMS".

The Pipe Band continued to use the HF&RS's accommodation until 2001. During this period it enjoyed a successful partnership with the FIRE SERVICE DRUM CORPS, which sadly folded due mainly to difficulties in maintaining their numbers. The pipe band was then required to move, as the FIRE SERVICE were about to undergo a huge re-development at their H/Q.

Following the parting with the FIRE SERVICE the band has been accommodated at the Marchwood Military Port nr Southampton where it is enjoying excellent facilities. It was also renamed as the "HAMPSHIRE CALEDONIAN PIPE BAND" and adopted the MacKenzie's Stags Head cap badge of the SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS in honour of Archie Cross the founding pipe Major. The Seaforth's had been Archie's original regiment.

The Gaelic motto on the badge reads "CUDICH 'N RIGH". In English this means "HELP THE KING". The story behind this motto is that king Alexander III was hunting in the forest of Mar and was unhorsed by an infuriated stag, which had been pursued by hounds. The story continues that the MacKenzie chief "Colin of Kintail" ran to the King's aid with the shout of "CUDICH 'N RIGH", before killing the stag. In gratitude the King granted the use of a "Stags head caboshed" (cut off at the neck) as the armorial bearings of the MacKenzie of Seaforth, together with the motto "CUDICH 'N RIGH".

The band, at present is a grade 4 band and has; during its lifetime; competed in several of the RSPBA (London & Southern England) organised competitions at that level. It has taken part in many Tattoos' at Portsmouth, Salisbury across Hampshire and Dorset and at the Royal Albert Hall in London as well as numerous Fetes, Carnivals and Summer Outings. Our main source of funding at present comes through community and private engagements.

Pipe Major, Archie Cross died very suddenly and unexpectedly, in June 2001 aged 65yrs. Archie's passing was a great loss not only to the band and its members but also to the piping community in the South of England and the Queens Own Highlanders Association (Southern Branch) for whom he was treasurer for many years. However, life must go on and so the band elected another of our founding members, John MacDonald to be P/Major and under his leadership the band continued to develop as it had done under Archie, John decided to leave in 2010 and the band is currently looking for a new Pipemajor.

Harry Norwood