Pipe band stalwarts top in country

NATIONAL ACCLAIM: Gisborne City Highland Pipe Band members (from left) David Andrew, Bryson Watt, and Kelly McCafferty topped a survey in New Zealand. The three longest serving, and playing, officers in a pipe band were all here in Gisborne. They all started as teenagers and the band has been like a second family. Picture by Paul Rickard

Three members of the City of Gisborne Highland Pipe Band have topped the country for their long service.

With 167 years of pipe band experience between them, David Andrew, Bryson Watt and Kelly McCafferty were named the most senior playing officers in the country in a recent survey by The Royal NZ Pipe Bands' Association.

It was remarkable they were all from Gisborne, said pipe major David Andrew, 67.

As part of the band the men have sustained the sounds of Scotland at weddings, funerals, family celebrations and during annual parades down Gladstone Road to celebrate graduations, Christmas and Anzac Day.

“It's great to still be functioning as a band and bringing it to the community,” said David, who was 12 when he started playing the bagpipes in 1966.

He thinks it's great to celebrate the Scottish heritage in this country.

Drum major Bryson, 85, started playing the pipes when he was 15. At 6ft 5 he has the perfect stature for drum major — the person who leads the band and tosses the mace. Seventy years on, he leads the band.

Drum sergeant Kelly McCafferty, 57, started in 1979 when he was 15 years old.

“It has been very rewarding,” he said.

Kelly said he had loved his 42 years with the band, and the comradeship it brought.

He and David continue to give back and encourage new members by teaching and tutoring every Monday night.

They have trained hundreds, but the band has been plagued by the “usual story” of young ones who learn, leave town to go to university and never come back.

Rare are the ones who stay, or return home to continue their connection with the pipe band.

David said band members were like a second family.

“And it's international — I've made friends through piping in Scotland and Ireland.”

The Gisborne Highland Pipe Band regrouped in 1965 for the Springbok tour of that year. It had been in recess.

The South African rugby team wanted a pipe band in the parade that welcomed them.

Bryson remembers they borrowed kilts, used paintbrushes for sporrans and paraded down Gladstone Road as the Springbok team watched from the Masonic Hotel

This kick-started the band and from there they went from strength to strength, renamed the City of Gisborne Highland Pipe Band.