Founder of Dumfries pipe band to be honoured with special performance

The founder of a pipe band in Dumfries will be honoured with a special performance this weekend.

Corberry Park Pipers will play at the Vintage Rally at the town’s Park Farm on Sunday in one of their longest-running commitments.

But during a break at around 2pm the band will head to the street where it all began to celebrate the founder Jim McConnachie as he prepares to step down from the band after 25 years.

Jim has taught hundreds of children in the two and a half decades since he started tutoring at his home in Corberry Park.

The 87-year-old said: “In between playing at the Vintage Rally, the band will come back to Corberry Park and play where the group started out.

“It’s my last year because I’m retiring at the end of September with a concert at Locharbriggs Community Centre. That coincides with 25 years since four laddies chapped my door and asked me to teach them the bagpipes.

“It’s been a long road but I like working with bairns. Because when you get old like me you’re meeting up with folk and discussing who’s ill, who’s died and who’d dead. But when you’re teaching kids they have a different perspective and they keep you young.”

Thanks to Jim’s help hundreds of children in the area have learnt how to play and have gone on to lead and perform in bands at home and abroad.

The group regularly plays across the region including Guid Nychburris, the Wigton Parade in Cumbria and at concerts and ceilidhs.

The group has had to face many challenges including the coronavirus pandemic in recent years.

Jim added: “25 years is a long time. We started from scratch and we’re still going.

“Covid-19 was very hard on all the bands but that was a very difficult time. It’s not the same as being face to face.

“I’ve tutored hundreds of kids. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. We’ve got them competing and we’ve been successful.”

Chairman Andy Boyd said: “What Jim has done has been incredible.

“He first started doing it free of charge and he still helps people out and doesn’t expect anything for it. It’s an inspiration to play with someone who has so much experience.

“He gets a lot of commitment from his students because of the commitment he gives to them. He will be sadly missed when he eventually retires.”