Craigmount High School was opened in 1971 with a stylish building, well funded with high hopes and a brilliant hand picked bunch of young teachers determined to make the school succeed and help destroy the stranglehold of private education in the city. A progressive and dynamic headmaster from the west was appointed, Bill Trotter, whose deputy was Alistair Hogg. By the spring on 1974 a pipe band had been started.

In June 1974, Les Howie, a teacher at the school, went to see the head who completely shocked him by stating that Arthur Wright, an assistant head teacher also wanted to start a band.  He then went to Arthur who was overjoyed that someone else was interested.  Arthur knew nothing about pipe bands, but it quickly became clear that his idea of a pipe band was of a gala day sort and had already appointed a Pipe Major, James Thorburn.  Jimmy Catherwood was asked to teach the drummers, but he felt that he was too busy and getting to old.  He recommended the Leading drummer of Edinburgh City Police, Bob Montgomery.  Thus began a happy and fruitful partnership that was to last for many years.  He was soon joined by the Edinburgh police bass drummer, Gordon MacArther, another police piper,  Martin Wilson and,  eventually, Tom Hare started the Drum Majors.  The instructors were in place and away they went.

What happened next was sheer luck, for out of the blue a new P.E. Teacher joined the staff in August who not only happened to be a champion solo piper but also a strong player with the red hackle pipes and drums.  Invited to join the happy team Jennifer Hutcheon became the best known of all Craigmount instructors.  Jennifer was a brilliant teacher, and shared the ambitions for the band. The bands prospects moved onto a new and realistic high.  Unfortunately the aims P.M. Thorburn clashed with the other tutors and Jennifer felt it would be unfair to continue the partnership.  There is no question that Jennifer transformed the piping section and drove the standard of the band seriously upwards.

The band was advertised in the school and at the first meeting in the lecture theatre over 100 youngsters arrived.  It was never a problem attracting pupils, especially girls.  The piping section was the strongest from the start, not just because Jennifer was there but also because there were some youngsters who already played.  The drummers were at a disadvantage as there was no youngster who was already playing.  They had about 8 months to learn from scratch and compete.  Again, there was a fantastic group of learners who were prepared to give is all they had.
It was this wonderful group of youngsters who competed for the first time in 1975 a scary experience for them all but one they were all rightly proud of.  It was during the second season (1975 - 1976) that the band really took wings. 

Hard work continues at the band by commited parents and supporters. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to find local funding. Our Pipe Major is Jamie Barnes. Tutors include Davie Barnes, Fraser Brown, Tony Parks, Shane and Lisa Jane McLauchlin.



The Band will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014 so if anybody out there has any historical photographs or would like to share any of your memories please pass them on to the Band Secretary.  We would love to hold an evening of celebration so keep in touch either by watching this website or join our facebook page for info.