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Recently, 17 visitors from
Urmitz, Germany, arrived in Maybole to celebrate 20
years of friendship with Maybole Pipe Band. Urmitz is
some five miles downstream, on the banks of the River
Rhine, from the German city of Koblenz. Band members
travel to Urmitz each year where they are invited to
perform in carnival parades during the “Rosemontag”
festival. The band has performed in these carnivals
every year since 1994 and made great friendships with
the town and its people with whom they are invited to
stay. As well as Urmitz, band members have played in
parades in more than six other neighbouring towns in the
Rhine area.
In February this year, in Urmitz Town Hall, a mounted
crest was presented from Maybole Pipe Band to the town
of Urmitz, to mark the anniversary of the20 year
friendship. Among the German visitors who arrived in
Maybole for the weekend’s planned celebration, was Mayor
Norbert Bahl who was accompanied by his family and
guests such as Eddie Nocker and Andrea Feix who are well
known to the band.
Also included in the guest
list was former Mayor of the town Manfred Kuhn, who was
in office when the pipe band travelled to Urmitz back in
1994 for the first time. While here, the visitors
enjoyed a tour of the local area including Culzean, a
pub or two, and a whisky tasting afternoon in Kirkoswald
where band members had the opportunity to repay the
visitors for all their hospitality over the years. It
was a chance for the band to host their visitors and
show off the local area.
A party was planned for the Saturday evening in the
Carrick Centre, Maybole, where 100 guests of the band
gathered and enjoyed a meal followed by some Scottish
entertainment such as Highland dancing, music from Davie
Anderson, Scottish songs and poems from Jim Stevens and
of course the highlight Maybole Pipe Band.
Later in the evening, the pipe band was proud to present
a canvas picture and voucher to drummer Walter Gill to
mark his 50 plus years of service to Maybole Pipe band.
Pipe Major Gavin Nicol and Drum Sergeant Robbie Kidd
made the presentation, and thanked Walter for his
service and commitment to the Band. Walter’s speech told
of how, over 40 years ago, he was introduced to Robbie
Kidd and asked to teach him as a young drummer. As well
as enjoying the Scottish entertainment there was plenty
of catching up with new and old guests chatting about
photos which decorated the hall, all from the 20 years
of travelling to Urmitz.
On Sunday there was a trip to Girvan for the Lowland
Gathering to watch the pipe bands and events there. Most
of the visitors travelled home on the Monday although
some even took the chance of a longer holiday further
north in Scotland. The Pipe Band would like to thank all
who helped with this occasion which marked a major
historic achievement for the band and its members to be
very proud of. |
