In the year 1940 Alex W. Sutherland
moved from his home in Earltown, Colchester County, to the small town of
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. According to his recollection he was “the only
resident piper in Dartmouth at that time”.
This soon changed as Mr. Sutherland taught his children to
play the Great Highland bagpipes. They, in turn, taught their children
and other relatives. His son, Gordon Sutherland, had three sons, as
well as nephews becoming proficient on the pipes so he proceeded to form a
small pipe band. Gordon’s younger son later became a drummer in the band.
In 1965, Gordon Sutherland (assisted by his
father, Alex W. Sutherland), formed the first Dartmouth Boy’s Pipe Band. From this time forward the Dartmouth & District Pipe Band have
always worn the Sutherland tartan in honour of their first instructors.
From a band comprised of a small group of boys in 1965
hundreds of pipers and drummers have since trained in the Dartmouth &
District pipe band school. These pipers and drummers are now spread
around the world where many band alumni have become famous in the world of
piping.
At the present time there are pipers and
drummers, ranging in age from 10 to adult in the Dartmouth & District Pipe
Band. This year many members of the Pipe band have had changes in
their lives that made it necessary to leave the competitive band such as new
babies, going on to university, starting a career, moving away from Nova
Scotia. So this year we are fielding only a grade 4 competitive band with
hopes of expanding to include a grade 5 band in the 2010 season. |
