Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums - History

History

The Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums was first formed around 1912 by a Scottish immigrant, William Lorne Nimmo, whose family first moved to Canada then to Cincinnati. William Nimmo was a Lieutenant in the police force. After moving to Cincinnati, Mr. Nimmo set about putting together a pipe band, and as he states in his autobiography “I organized a pipe band, assisted by some good businessmen of the Caledonian Society.” When the band was first started, it had some 20 members. During World War I the band gained much notoriety by leading weekly parades supporting the war effort and Liberty Bond drives, visiting the training camps, hospitals, Red Cross and other affairs in the interest of building up morale. It was after World War I when a number of veterans from the Seaforth Highlanders regiment, now known as The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons), joined the band that it adopted the Mackenzie tartan and the regimental hat badge (a stag's head with the motto Cuidich n'Righ – Support the King) both of which are still proudly worn today. In the 1930s, some of the members spent considerable time traveling the States in a converted Chevy school bus they referred to as "the Wee Hoose" complete with a grand set of great highland antlers attached to the front grill. In the 1950s, the band was given new life under the direction of pipe major Alvin Spivak, and once again support from the Caledonian Society of Cincinnati, which provided money for new uniforms and two sets of bagpipes. Included in the roster was piper Lomond Nimmo, son of the founder, William. In 1965, the band made 37 appearances including the Ohio State Fair. In 1968, the band led the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Since then, the band has continuously played various events including an annual Tartan Ball, held in the 1970s and 80s, the St. Andrew's Day Celebration held by the Caledonian Society of Cincinnati, and other annual and one time events. At that time, the band changed its name to the Caledonian Pipes, Drums and Dancers, as the band included a thriving dance section which was incorporated into all its performances and marched behind the drummers. The 1980s saw the band begin attending competitions at Highland Games. In the mid 1990s, the band began re-building a competition unit. Very soon after, they fielded 3 units including a grade 5, grade 4, and grade 5 youth band. After leadership changes in 1999-2000, they fielded a grade 4 competition band, finishing 4th at Glengarry Highland Games (the North American Championships) in Ontario. In 2001, after some members split to form Mad Anthony Wayne Pipe Band, only a grade 5 band returned. By 2005, the grade 5 band finished 2nd at Stone Mountain Highland Games resulting in a move up to grade 4 the following year. In 2006, the Mad Anthony Wayne Pipe Band merged and incited a great influx of local and non-local players which created a grade 3 competition band with CCP&D. They competed at such games as Alma, Fergus, Ligonier, and Stone Mountain. The grade 3 band disbanded after the 2007 competition season. The Grade 5 band continues competing up to the present. Achievements in 2008 included 1st place grade 5 at Kentucky Scottish Weekend, 1st place grade 5 at Glasgow, KY Highland Games, and 1st place grade 5 at Ohio Scottish Games (Ohio Valley Branch Championship). The band celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, 2012. A Centennial Celebration will be held on Sept. 2nd with all band members, past and present, invited to attend. The grade 5 competition band placed 1st at the Ohio Scottish Games and 3rd at Alma (MI) Highland Games.