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Drum Major A Watson, Anzac Day 1968
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History - WSPD 1965-Present
In 1964, the year New Zealand entered the Vietnam War, the Government determined that the
New Zealand Army should consist of only one infantry regiment. The 1st
Battalion, Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington’s Own) was amalgamated with the
Hawkes Bay |
| Regiment to form the 7th Battalion, Royal New
Zealand Infantry Regiment. The Pipes & Drums were casualties in this re-organisation,
the Army electing to maintain only one regimental band. As the Regimental Band was
probably more suited to all-round musical duties, and was considerably stronger in numbers
at that time (about 60 members), it was decided that this band would be retained. However
the Pipes & Drums was permitted to keep its dress uniforms and it continued as a
civilian band with the same personnel and repertoire. |
| The band was re-named the Pipes & Drums of
Wellington City in line with its history of civic service and service to the Wellington
Regiment. The Mayor of Wellington became its patron. The band also had to find a new home,
as it could no longer remain in the Buckle Street baracks. Fortunately the band was able
to purchase its present band hall at Point Jerningham from the Roseneath Returned Services
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A fundraising "wine and cheese" evening in the new
band hall. Note the complete absence of both wine and cheese!
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| Association. The hall is right on the edge of the point,
next to the saluting battery of 25-pounders. It was a little rustic at first, but soon it
was furnished with all the appointments. For some
years the Pipes & Drums seems to have continued to operate as a de facto regimental
band, participating in military parades throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, and in
some instances becoming the target of anti-Vietnam war aggression. Kevin Nelson recalls on
more than one occasion protesters attempting to break up parades. |
| It was under the name Pipes & Drums of the
City of Wellington that one of the more amusing episodes in the band’s life occurred.
The band was performing in Masterton during half-time of a rugby match (a time-honoured
New Zealand tradition) between Hawkes Bay and the Wairarapa, but it seemingly outstayed
its welcome. An impatient referee blew the whistle for the second-half kick-off while the
band was still performing |
The Lodge Cartoon
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| on the field. The subsequent cartoon by Neville
Lodge (46 kb) in the Evening Post was a "blow" for pipe bands everywhere. |
Beating the Retreat, 1969
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Before long the new name caused some confusion
with another pipe band, The City of Wellington Pipe Band, and so in the mid-1970s the band
changed its name to the Wellington Scottish Pipes & Drums by which it is still known
today. |
| This name seems quite appropriate given the former, albeit
brief, exitence of the Wellington Scottish Company in the Regiment in the 1870s. The
WSPD’s association with the New Zealand Defence Forces did not end in 1964 however as
the band continued to play at the National Anzac Day dawn and 10:00 services with the Band
of the 7th Battalion RNZIR. |
| But the "civilian" era did mark a
turning point for the band in terms of competition. Under the direction of Kevin
Nelson as Pipe Major WSPD enjoyed many competition victories in the 1970s at local and
national level, first in grade C, and later in grade B. The band has continued to |
Botanical Gardens Parade 1999
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| compete, although less vigorously in the late 1980s and
1990s. During the 1990s the band's competition rating lapsed from grade 3 to grade 4 under
the new rating system when it was introduced as the band had not competed at the Nationals
since the mid-1980s. In the 1970s the Pipes &
Drums played at the laying up of the Battalion Colours in St Paul's Cathedral, and in 1990
had the honour of again playing for the 2NZEF - this time for the 50th Anniversary of the
formation of the the 25th Battalion. |
1990 Jubilee
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The main highlight of the 1990s was the band's
60th Jubilee celebrations in 1992. A weekend reunion was organised bringing together many
former band members and associates of the band. |
| Much of the material on this web site was collected as
part of the Jubilee. The central event of the weekend was a march through the city, with
former members joining in, culminating in a civic reception hosted by the Mayor, Fran
Wilde. This reunion
picture was taken in the civic square after the march. Kevin stepped aside as Pipe Major in 1996 and David Sutherland took
his place. Under David's direction the band is now embarking on another competition
"offensive" over the next two years with the ultimate objective of being
promoted back to grade 3. |
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