Lord Selkirk RFM Pipe Band

In the 1950’s the Manitoba Scout Council wanted to start a Boy Scout

Pipe Band. They approached Mr. Robert Fraser who had recently emigrated

from Scotland. The Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band (LSBSPB) had its

humble start the fall of 1957. In the beginning, instructors whittled dummy

chanters out of wood and drew in the finger holes! Some other key

instructors in the early days were Mr. Douglas Will, Harold Cooper and Jack

Gunn, to name a few. The Cameron Highlanders loaned them a set of pipes

in the 1960s, and a donation from the Kiwanis Club finally enabled the band

to buy bagpipes.

The band wears the Douglas tartan to honour Thomas Douglas, the Fifth

Earl of Selkirk, who sent 23 Scottish settlers to the banks of the Red and

Assiniboine rivers in 1812 to begin a new life. Over the past 20 years, when

the band has made the trip to Scotland, they have always visited the present

“Lord Selkirk” at the family estate at Lennoxlove. More recently that has

been James Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas, 11th Earl of

Selkirk, and his wife Lady Susan Douglas that the boys have visited both in

Scotland and in Winnipeg when the couple came to commemorate the

Clearances and the statue honouring the Selkirk Settlers.

Mr. Fraser came from Arbroath, Scotland. A professional printer by

trade, Mr. Fraser also served in the Royal Air Force and studied and taught

piping from an early age. He was involved with The Boys Brigade in

Scotland and was a member of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. Mr.

Fraser served in the Scottish Air Force in World War II, after which he

married his wife, Frances. In addition to starting the Lord Selkirk band, Mr.

Fraser was also Pipe Major of the St. Andrew’s Society Pipe Band and the

Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders here in Winnipeg. Many credit Mr.

Fraser’s personal example of musicianship and excellence in teaching, as

well as his generosity and kindness, with the band’s longevity and success.

Mr. Fraser has always insisted that no boy should be left behind because

their family couldn’t afford to pay their way. Mr. Fraser’s first piping

instructor would not accept payment for teaching, Therefore, in kind, Mr.

Fraser has given free instruction to thousands of Manitoba boys who now

are accomplished pipers, piping teachers and judges the world over. There

are many drummers who have reached those same levels. For more than 50

years Mr. Fraser was the Heart and Soul of the Pipe Band. He continued to

dedicate his time, efforts, talent, kindness and patience to produce

outstanding pipers and drummers until just a couple of months prior to his

death. An equally dedicated staff of piping and drumming alumni continue

to volunteer their time each week to teach and practice with the boys. All

band members have their uniforms, kit and travel expenses provided. For

thirty years Mrs. Francis Fraser was the organizational backbone of the

band. The behind-the-scenes contributions Mrs. Fraser made to the Pipe

Band are immeasurable. She kept all the records and minutes of the Ladies

Auxiliary meetings, helped with fundraising, supervised and cared for the

boys on all the trips, and opened her home for meetings and lessons on

Monday nights. She was by Mr. Fraser's side at every Band trip and

function. She was an accomplished artist, and would often donate one of her

paintings to be raffled off as a contribution to the band. Each October the

Ladies Auxiliary held a Tea under her direction at the Fransiscan Friar on

Edmonton Street, which was a very successful fundraiser. Sporting a good

sense of humour and wanting to prove that Bob Fraser wasn’t the only piper

in the family, Francis organized a Ladies Pipe Band complete with kilts

made of garbage bags covered in coloured tape in the Douglas tartan!

In the early years, the pipe band was associated with the Ladies'

Caledonian Society and the Sons of Scotland. The original band parents

were divided into the Ladies Auxiliary and the Men's Club. The Ladies

made mealy pudding in the basement of the hall to fundraise and made

enough money to buy 5 sets of pipes. In the early 1980's the two groups

joined and became the parent committee.

The parent executive committee is now the primary fundraising force

behind the Band. This executive, with the support of all the parents, is

responsible for keeping the band outfitted in uniforms and instruments,

planning and arranging all band trips and entrance into competitions, and

maintaining the Saturday morning canteen. Most of the volunteer instructors

are former band members or parents. These parents and volunteers are all

dedicated to the goals of the band.

Early in the 2000’s, because the band was focused entirely around

instruction, performances and competitions, leaving little or no time for the

boys to participate in more traditional Scouting activities, the band’s charter

with the Scouting movement came to an end. In 2008, the band’s name

officially changed to the Lord Selkirk Boys Pipe Band (LSBPB). Nothing

has changed in the band’s policy, in that it still helps turn young boys in to

fine musicians and outstanding citizens, who also develop a keen interest

and love of the culture and music of Scotland.

The band has traveled to Scotland a number of times for the boys to

experience that culture first hand, and also to have the opportunity to

perform at various venues and compete at the World’s Pipe Band

Competition in Glasgow. Most recently were trips in 2000, 2004, 2009 and

2012. In keeping with Mr. Fraser’s philosophy, all participating boys had all

their trip expenses paid for by the diligent fundraising efforts of the parent

committee. What a gift! In 2009, the two-week trip saw the boys playing at

Sterling Castle, Piping Live in George Square which was televised on the

Internet, placing 8th in the World on Glasgow Green and taking first place at

the Bute Highland Games! Many other great events happen on these trips

like the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, strolling the fields of Culloden and

seeing heather covering the moors like a purple blanket, while driving north

to Inverness.

In September 2007, a weekend of festivities took place to celebrate the

band’s 50th anniversary and Mr. Fraser’s involvement all these years. A

wonderful dinner was held at the Hotel Fort Garry and many alumni

participated. As they reminisced about their time in the band, two major

highlights were shared by almost everyone who spoke – their admiration for

Mr. Fraser and their trips to Scotland. Sadly, Mr. Fraser passed away on

March 13, 2012 at age 89, but his band proudly marches on!

http://www.lsbpb.ca/index.html