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“21st Birthday Attracts Eleven Bands”

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Description: These images were taken for the April 16th 1978, edition of the Tribune weekly newspaper, the first of which was published with the caption “The highlight of last week's "Gathering O' the Clans" which was held in Feilding.”

The short article (published on page 5, separately from the image), read: “Eleven pipe bands came to Feilding last weekend for the 21st anniversary of the town's Gathering O' the Clans. And there to lead the Feilding band into the Civic Centre was Mr George Peters, now of Rotorua, who lead the band into the brand new Civic Centre 21 years ago. Also there was Mr. Bill Reddick, who was the Feilding Caledonian Society's chief then. The first Gathering O' the Clans was held to commemorate the opening of the Civic Centre. Pipers and drummers came from Waipawa, the Rangitikei, Marton, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Dannevirke, Paraparaumu and Horowhenua for last weekend's celebrations, as well as the Manawatu Scottish, Feilding Caledonian and Feilding Municipal Brass Band. A ladies' pipe band, from Wellington, was a special attraction The traditional street march, through the Feilding business area, was climaxed by the march, en masse, of all the bands together to the Civic Centre. Individual bands then provided music for dancing, and the celebrations went on into the night. One of the special guests was the Member for Ruahine, Mr L. W. Gandar. Two prizes were presented to the Feilding band's members at the start of the celebrations: Kerry Lindsay was named as the best all-rounder in the band, and Anne Lucinsky as the most improved piper. In honour of the 21st anniversary, bottles of Scotch whisky were presented to each band's pipe major.”

These images form part of the Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection. Unfortunately, only negatives between April and December 1978 are held.