Vale of Atholl again searching for L-D after Allan resigns

After less than a year in the role, Robert Wiseman Dairies-Vale of Atholl Pipe Band Leading-Drummer Crawford Allan has resigned, leaving the band again searching for a percussion section leader.

In a statement the band cited a combination of personnel departures and pressing personal demands that influenced Allan’s decision to leave the band.

Allan took over the Vale corps in late-2010 after the resignation of long-time Leading-Drummer Paul Turner following the 2010 competition season. At the time, the band was left with only three snare drummers, and Allan was able to increase the numbers, but the corps and the band collectively finished consistently at or near the bottom of the results in Grade 1 at RSPBA championships.

The band said that it has lost “a significant number of . . . side drummers” since the end of the 2011 season. Members have reportedly gone to the reformed Ballycoan and the Howard Memorial pipe band or have left Scotland altogether.

According to the band, Allan will not remain with Vale of Atholl.

The band is again searching for a new Leading-Drummer “who is keen to take forward the drum corps of this long-established Grade 1 pipe band,” and invites those interested  to contact Pipe-Major Adrian Cramb via e-mail.