Plymouth has a new reason to be proud after the City of Plymouth Pipe Band, led by Pipe Major Gordon Macaoidh, returned from Glasgow with their first ever World Championship trophy.
Formed 50 years ago (in the pub!) as the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders regimental association pipe band, before gaining the ‘City of Plymouth’ name, the band has a long history of supporting parades and carnivals throughout the South West and has been competing at regional events for a decade but only recently stepped up to major competitions.
2025 World Pipe Band Championship Win
On August 16, the band took to the famous Glasgow Green to compete in the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships. Facing a pool of 23 rivals in the fiercely competitive Grade 4B category, they qualified for the final for the very first time – before going on to secure sixth place and a historic major trophy.
The All England championship Winning Performance
“It was like being struck by lightning,”
said Iain, the band’s secretary and piper.
“There was a lot of emotion when we saw ‘City of Plymouth’ on the qualifying board. We knew we’d just achieved something really special in qualifying.”
The celebrations were short-lived as the band quickly regrouped to repeat their strong performance in the final. When the results were announced to a packed crowd of over 35,000, the words ‘City of Plymouth’ rang out over the tannoy, sparking huge cheers from players and supporters alike.
“Despite being one of the smaller groups on the field, we certainly made plenty of noise,”
Iain said.
“It’s still sinking in – our first qualification for a major final, our first major trophy, and recognition on a world stage.”
Looking Ahead
The result marks a milestone for the band, which has been competing at this level for only two years. New drums, funded with the help of local supporters and businesses, played a major role in their success.
The results were broadcast live on the BBC, while videos of the band’s performances shared on Facebook have since been watched by thousands, giving Plymouth’s musicians worldwide exposure.
There were further celebrations at the end of August when the Band lifted the Grade 4 All England Champions title at Chatsworth.
Next Performance Plans for 50th Anniversary
Now the band is preparing to celebrate closer to home. Supporters are invited to their 50th anniversary ceilidh on Saturday October 18 at The Watermark in Ivybridge. Tickets are available now from the box office or via the band’s social media pages.
“This is just the beginning,”
added Iain said.
“We also hope this recognition will inspire more new learners to join us, helping to secure a strong future for piping and drumming in Plymouth. The support from Plymouth has got us here – and we can’t wait to share this moment with everyone at the ceilidh.”
