College Ceilidh in full swing

The annual College Ceilidh returned on the evening of 13 June, a night befitting a true Scotsman, marked by tradition, live music, dancing, and hearty fare.

The Pipes and Drums opened proceedings with a commanding set before the Second Pipe Band joined them on the floor, filling Elliott Hall with the kind of sound that makes the walls feel smaller. 

Deputy Principal Duncan McQueen was a familiar and jovial presence on the microphone, steering the evening with his usual ease. He shared the news underpinning the evening, that the Swiss Military has invited our Pipes and Drums to return to the 20th anniversary of the Basel Tattoo. Our students will join nine other international bands in the Massed Pipes and Drums alongside the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards, and the Royal Air Force this July.

The evening's formalities were handled with due ceremony. William Lindsey delivered the Ode to the Haggis, and soloist Greg Ruxton kept the crowd warm through the night with My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose, McPherson’s Rant, and a rousing Loch Lomond that had the room singing along by the final verse. Between dinner and dancing, Highland Dancer Grace Broun gave guests a taste of the professional standard, performing three traditional dances with poise beyond her years.

Proceeds from the evening go directly toward the band’s travel to Switzerland. As Principal Damon Emtage put it, the night reflected the community’s deep gratitude for the students in the Pipes and Drums, and for the recent leavers in the Alumni Band who have returned to join them in the endeavour.