About the Wiltshire Caledonian Pipes & Drums

The Wiltshire Caledonian Pipes and Drums band are an enthusiastic group of highly qualified, student and youth pipers and drummers from Wiltshire, Hampshire  and the surrounding areas. They are dedicated to keeping traditional Scottish pipe and drums music alive for future generations, training young people in the wonderful and ancient musical craft.  

The band performs at public, civic and private events in the UK and internationally, promoting the Scottish Highland Bagpipes, Drums and Highland Dancing to the audiences and encourage people from all walks of life to visit us on our Show Stands and have a go at playing - we provide one month's free training at one of our two Training & Assessment Centres for anyone who is interested.  If you enjoy learning and playing, you will have the opportunity to join either the youth or main band.

The band has been in existence, in a number of different iterations, for more than 15 years and, in the last six months it  has gone from strength to strength!  Now boasting over fifty regular Members including Youth Members.  Indeed, the band, a not-for-profit-organisation, has grown in size to such an extent that it is in the process of becoming a registered charity so that it can promote Scottish Highland music and dance to a wider audience.  In recognition of the band’s new direction, and to reflect the openness and inclusivity of the band, it was decided to create a new uniform with the ‘Grey Stewart’ tartan at its heart.  Although based on the clan tartan, the Grey Stewart is technically a universal fashion tartan which anyone may wear.

To finance the cost of its new uniforms and Training & Assessment Centres, the Wiltshire Caledonian Pipes & Drums band undertakes an extensive programme of engagements every year.  The band makes appearances and performs at major military tattoos, civic, charitable and other special events including carnivals, Parades, social gatherings, fetes and weddings in the Wiltshire area and further afield.  In 2024 the Wiltshire Caledonian Pipes and Drums band headlined at both public and military St Patrick’s Day events at Warminster and Tidworth.  We performed at the Father’s Day race event at Salisbury Racecourse, piped the welcome to the Charity Ball and Auction at the largest D-Day 80th Anniversary three-day event in Wiltshire in Collingbourne Kingston,  and took part in the Schutzenfest in Dulmen, Germany performing alongside the Grampian District Pipes and Drums Band.  We also led the Wargrave Festival Parade alongside Ms Debbie McGee, and played at the major Wiltshire Carnivals and Parades in Warminster, Melksham, Frome and Trowbridge.

To round the year off on a 'high note', on the 5th December 2024, The Wiltshire Caledonian Pipes & Drums was proud to perform at St James Palace for the Not Forgotten Charity's Christmas Concert which was hosted by members of the Royal Family.   Pipe Sergeant Keith Turner said: “The band is very excited to come and perform for the Royal Family at The Not Forgotten Christmas Party, at the St James Palace Christmas Concert, it was a fabulous, wonderful event and were very proud to be playing for such a fantastic veterans' audience.” 

The Wiltshire Caledonian Pipes & Drums band has an extensive repertoire of Scottish and Irish music including Slow Airs, Marches, Strathspeys and Reels which can be arranged to suit any occasion, including processions, marching displays, static shows, and solo performances. The band meets for rehearsals twice each week in Shipton Bellinger, near Tidworth and Westwood, near Bradford upon Avon.