London Police Pipes and Drums (LPPD)The History of the Pipes and Drums

In 1966, Canadians began planning their special events to celebrate Canada's Centennial the following year. Sergeant Robert Young and Constable Maurice Coghlin, both members of the London Police Force, decided upon the formation of a pipe band as their centennial project.

They obtained many articles of band equipment and clothing from the then defunct London City Pipe Band and recruited twenty-four members. Numerous organizational meetings were held and on April 26, 1967, the first practice took place at the Grove Methodist Church on Huron Street. The band was under the direction of Pipe Major Duncan McGregor of the Essex and Kent Regiment. Constable Coghlin was appointed Drum Major and Sgt. Young was Band Director.

During the nicer weather the practices were held in the police station parking lot on King Street. However, due to complaints from neighbours, these practices were stopped. The band moved to the #427 RCAF Association Hall on Crumlin Road.

The City of London Auxiliary Police sponsored the Pipes and Drums and the Board of Commissioners of Police authorized Band members to wear the insignia of the Auxiliary Police. London City Council granted the Band the use of the City crest on its equipment

Major A.M. Cairns, MMM, CD

and the official name of the Band became the City of London Auxiliary Police Pipe Band.

The City of London had previously adopted the MacGregor tartan in honour of Peter MacGregor, London's first permanent resident, and this honour was passed on to the Band.

The Band soon became popular and participated in many civic functions and charitable events.

Sergeant Young and Constable Coghlin achieved their Centennial Year goal by participating in London's Centennial Parade.

In its early years the Band participated annually in the Canadian Safety Patrol Jamboree in Ottawa and the Fortnight Festival in London. They also performed at the opening of the new City Hall in 1971 and played during the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1973.

In 1974 the sponsorship of the Band was passed to the Board of Commissioners of Police and became known as the Pipes and Drums of the City of London Police.

For several years the Band continued to play an active role in civic events and police public relations.

In 1980 membership dwindled and the Pipes and Drums were threatened with being disbanded.

On November 16, 1983, the Band was reformed under the direction of Major Archie Cairns, MMM, CD. Membership grew quickly and the Pipes and Drums again performed at many events representing the London Police. They have participated in the Police Memorial Service in Ottawa, several years at the London Tattoo, March Past ceremonies at the Ontario Police College and annually at the London Warrior's Day Parade, Remembrance Day Parade and Police Week activities. The Band played for Her Majesty, Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, at the lighting of the eternal flame at Banting House in London. Since 1992 members of the London Police Pipes and Drums have played annually with Orchestra London at their Celtic Ceilidh. In 2000 the Band was invited to play with the Kitchener- Waterloo Symphony in celebration of the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Circle in the Square.

The Band members are citizens of the community representing a variety of occupations and pastimes. They practise weekly at the London Police Headquarters.

Beaver Hall, Wolseley Barracks, c. 1986

Front Row (Seated): Pipe Sgt. John Cairns, Chief of Police Laverne Shipley, Pipe Major Archie Cairns, Drum Major Rod Silverson, Insp. George Brunton (Band Liaison Officer), Drum Sgt. Neil White (Lead Drummer)Second Row: Bob McDaniel, Mark Short, Andrew Hart , Cathy Jackson, Fiona Pickering, Eileen Wood, Roy Ellis, Jim McCreery, Tom MacPherson, Jim Wilkie, Stirling Gray, Norm McFarlaneThird Row: Bonnie Cairns, Debbie Hinton, Wally Taylor, Colin Hagen, Rod Trevors, Muriel Moon, Chric Robbins, Donald Macpherson

Rembrance Day Parade:

Leading: Drum Major Rod SilversonFirst Rank (from left): Pipe Major Archie Cairns, Cathy Jackson, Pipe Cpl. Stirling Gray, Pipe Sgt. John CairnsSecond Rank: Norm McFarlane, Bob McDanielThird Rank: Roy Ellis, Tom MacPherson, Jim Wilkie, Jim McCreeryFourth Rank: Rod Trevors, Colin Hagen, Paul DavisFifth Rank: Neil White, Bonnie Cairns, Debbie Hinton

(From left): Chric Robbins, Bob McDaniel, Jim Wilkie, Eileen Wood, Rod Trevors, Colin Hagen

Police Memorial Parade, 1997

Front Row (from left): Drum Sgt. Jane Buckingham (Lead Drummer), Alex Baker, Jim McCreery, Greig McCreery, Pipe Sgt. Bob Thomson, Drum Major Rob Ross, Rod Silverson, Gareth Jones, Reg King, Al Attwood, Kelly Stoddart, Ann QuanSecond Row: Stewart Watt, Jim Parker, Ross Webster, Eileen Robertson, Neil White, Paul Davis, Pat Potter, Dave Hutchison, Dan McCoy, Bob McDaniel

Harris Park, Canada Day, 1988

Left Half (from left): Pipe Major Archie Cairns, Barry Griffith, Eileen Wood, Norm McFarlane, Al Attwood, Rob Burns, Drum Sgt. Neil White (Lead Drummer), Bonnie Cairns, Rod TrevorsRight Half: Paul Davis, Colin Hagen, Chric Robbins, Donald Macpherson, Jim Wilkie, Bob McDaniel, Tom MacPherson, Pipe Sgt. Stirling Gray, Drum Major Rod Silverson

Front Row (from left): Pipe Cpl. Roy Ellis, Pipe Sgt. Stirling Gray, Chief of Police Julian Fantino, Pipe Major Archie Cairns, Rod Silverson, Insp. Dan Vickery, Drum Sgt. Chric Robbins (Lead Drummer), Drum Major Rob RossSecond Row: Ross Webster, Bob Thomson, Jim Wilkie, Al Attwood, Bob McDaniel, Norm McFarlane, Ann Quan, Fiona Cairns, Dave HutchisonThird Row: Donald Macpherson, Barry Griffith, Dan McCoy, Neil White, Paul Davis, Muriel Moon, Bonnie Cairns, Jane Buckingham, Jim McCreery, Pat Potter

Kitchener-Waterloo Circle in the Square Anniversary Concert, 2000In front facing pipers: Piper Major Archie CairnsFrom left: Pipe Sgt. Bob Thomson, Fiona Cairns, Ross Webster, Steward Watt (rear), Bob McDaniel, Greig McCreery, Rod Silverson (rear), Reg King, Al Attwood, Dave Hutchison, Noreen Lanning (rear), Jim McCreery, George Turland (rear), Ann Quan, Jim Wilkie, Pat Potter

Front Row (seated)(from left): Pipe Sgt. Bob Thomson, Rod Silverson,Chief of Police Julian Fantino, Pipe Major Archie Cairns, Insp. Al Gilmore, Drum Major Rob Ross, Drum Sgt. Jane Buckingham (Lead Drummer)Second Row: Jim Wilkie, Pipe Sgt. Roy Ellis, Greig McCreery, Alex Baker, Ann Quan, Chris McCoy, Bob McDaniel, Norm McFarlane, Fiona Cairns, Jim McCreeryThird Row: Ross Webster, Stewart Watt, Jim Parker, Nancy McLaughlin, Neil White, Dan McCoy, Paul Folkard, Al Attwood, Pat Potter, Dave Hutchison

RCMP 125th Anniversary Celebration, Labatt Park, 1998.

Pipe Sgt. Bob Thomson (left front rank) wearing new RCMP dress for Pipes and Drums.

Grosvenor Club, 1998

First Rank (from left): Roy Ellis, Ross Webster, Al Attwood, Bob ThomsonSecond Rank: Greig McCreery, Natasha Ohler, Noreen Lanning, Bob McDanielThird Rank: Jim McCreery, Ann Quan, Jim Parker, Gareth JonesFourth Rank: Jim Wilkie, Dave HutchisonFifth Rank: Reg King, Margi Cole, Stewart Watt, George TurlandSixth Rank: Rod Silverson, Barry Twigge (at edge)

Front Row (Seated) (from left): Insp. Rob Brown, Pipe Sgt. Bob Thomson, Drum Sgt. Jane Buckingham (Lead Drummer), Pipe Major Archie Cairns, Superintendent Murray Faulkner, Rod Silverson, Pipe Sgt. Roy Ellis, Drum Major Rob RossSecond Row: Jim McCreery, Natasha Ohler, Margi Cole, Ann Quan, Noreen Lanning, Fiona Cairns, Bob McDaniel, Pat PotterThird Row: Dave Hutchison, Greig McCreery, George Turland, Al Attwood. Barry Twigge, Norm McFarlane, Gareth Jones, Jim Wilkie

Front Row (Seated)(from left): Pipe Sgt. Roy Ellis, Drum Sgt. Barry Twigge, S/Sgt. Don Campbell, Pipe Major Archie Cairns, Deputy Chief Brian Collins, Drum Major Rod Silverson, Drum Sgt. Jane Buckingham (Lead Drummer), Pipe Sgt. Bob ThomsonSecond Row: Greig McCreery, Natasha Ohler, Margi Cole, Al Attwood, Jim McCreery, Bob McDaniel, Noreen Lanning, Fiona Cairns, Norm McFarlaneThird Row: Dave Hutchison, Pat Potter, Rick Wood, George Turland, Gareth Jones, Neil White, Scott Shaw, Jim Parker, Jim Wilkie, Tim Evenden