By Alex Mortimer
Scotland’s historic police pipe band has withdrawn from this year’s competition season for the first time in nearly 150 years after its lead drummer quit.
The departure of championship-winning drummer David Henderson led to other members of the band following suit, which is traditional in the world of drumming.
Pipe Major Ewan Henderson told 1919 that attempts to find a replacement lead drummer have so far been unsuccessful.
The turn of events has left the multiple award-winning band – which is considered one of the best in the world – unable to take part in 2025’s competitions.
The Scottish Police and Federation Pipe Band can trace its origins back to 1883 through the formation of the Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band, which at the time was one of the first non-military pipe bands in the country.
It has gone on to win at 20 world championships, as well as dozens of other major competitions.
Pipe Major Henderson said: “I was disappointed to get a call from my former lead drummer, what felt like out of the blue, in February this year telling me he is leaving the band to go to Shotts and Dykehead [Caledonia Pipe Band].
“Drummers tend to follow the lead drummer so I knew straight away the band would be looking at losing its entire drum corps.
“We did advertise for a new lead drummer but knew we would be facing an uphill battle to secure one in time to compete this year.
“Along with the remaining members of the band, I made the decision to pull out of this year’s competitions.”
Henderson is a former chief inspector in firearms licensing, who retired from the Scottish force in 2023 after nearly three decades of service.
“I was disappointed to get a call from my former lead drummer, what felt like out of the blue, telling me he is leaving the band”
He has proposed a transfer window at the end of the competition season for leading drummers and pipe majors.
“When it came to replacing the lead drummer and most of the drum corps this season, from my own principles and standpoint I didn’t want to appoint anyone that would be at the expense of another band,” he told 1919.
“It has happened to so many lower grade bands in the past, which have had to disband completely. It’s not right no matter what grade it happens at.
“I don’t want another band to have to go through what we have experienced this year, and I think mechanisms need to be put into place to stop this happening in the future.
“I hope we can get a new leading drummer in soon who can build up their own drum corps, and the band can pick up where we left off and continue to represent Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Federation to a high standard and continue to improve each year.”
The police pipe band had a successful 2024, ranking third in one category at the world championships, while the Shotts and Dykehead band also won several accolades last year.
According to the specialist publication pipes|drums, David Henderson has now replaced previous lead drummer Grant Cassidy there.
The police pipe band evolved from several legacy force bands, and was known as the City of Glasgow Pipe Band between 1912 and 1975, before enjoying competitive success under Strathclyde Police between 1975 and 2013, when Police Scotland was formed.
Known as the Police Scotland and Federation Pipe band since 2021, an agreement is in place which ensures the band receives personnel support from Police Scotland and financial support from the Scottish Police Federation.
David Henderson was contacted for comment.