Welcome to the website for North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service Pipe Band. The ethos of the band is to provide both an enjoyable pastime to it's members and to also offer teaching to anyone who has the enthusiasm and aptitude to learn. We see these as key elements of band membership to ensure the band continues to go from strength to strength.
Based in Thirsk, North Yorkshire in the Fire Station, the band travels right across the County of North Yorkshire and beyond performing at public engagements and competitions. The band currently competes in Grade 4 and is a member of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
We're always on the look out for players. If you would like to see what the band could offer you, why not pop down to a practice and see for yourself.
The band meets every Tuesday from 6.00pm – 9.30pm at Thirsk Fire Station and welcomes players of all ages and abilities. The first hour is devoted to learners. Practice proper starts at 7.00pm. The fire station is located on Newsham Road. If you find Tesco's, look across the road from Tesco's car park towards Tesco's petrol station and you will see the Fire Station about 200m to the left. If in doubt, ask a local (they honestly don't bite).
Although the band usually meets every week, it is worthwhile to check our diary just in case as we tend to have a couple of weeks off over the Christmas period.
The band spends quite a bit of its time fundraising so that members can receive the best quality equipment. The only things we don't provide are shirts, underwear and shoes. We also raise money by levying a band subscription which currently stand at £50 per year. This money can be paid either in full at the start of the band financial year or spread over four payment dates. Either way, it's a cheap way to get pipe chanter reeds etc....
When you join the band, you will also be given access to the members area which includes all the music we play and aids to help you learn and practice.