Strathclyde Police Pipe Band reaches the end of an era

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21304122

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It is the end of an era for the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, which is making its last performance under that name at Celtic Connections.

Scotland's eight regional police forces are being merged into a nationwide one - and, on 1 April, Strathclyde Police will be no more.

The oldest civilian pipe band in the world will play on, but its new name has not yet been revealed.

It is hosting The Annual Piping Concert at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

After the lunchtime event on the closing weekend of Celtic Connections - Glasgow's annual folk and world music festival - it will embark on its latest name change.

It started life as Govan Police Pipe Band, then Glasgow Police and, since 1975, Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.

The new name is likely to include Greater Glasgow and organisers are confident the band will continue, with funding confirmed until April 2014.

Lothian and Borders Police Band announced in November that it was to disband after it was left with not enough members to compete.

Central Scotland Police announced in October that, because of the single force, it had disbanded its pipe and drum band and reformed it as a civilian one, the Bannockburn and District Pipe Band.