BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Queen at launch of police tartan
Queen at launch of police tartan
Grampian Police Pipe Band has unveiled a new tartan to mark its centenary.
The Queen, who is on a private visit to Balmoral Castle, stopped on her way back
from Crathie Kirk to hear the band play on the lawn of the Deeside Estate.
The pipe band, formed in 1907 by a small group of officers, performed on Royal
Deeside on Sunday afternoon.
A new tartan which could be used both by the pipe band and Grampian Police as a
whole was designed to honour the centenary in an appropriate way.
Pipe Major Drew Sinclair and Drum Major Bill Barclay came up with the new
blue-influenced tartan.
Major factor
The brief they were given was to produce a modern and contemporary tartan which
retained a traditional military feel.
Two tones of dark blue were chosen as the base weave as blue is a colour closely
associated with the police service.
The darkest of the blues used looks almost black and is representative of North
Sea oil, a major factor in local life.
Pipe Major Sinclair said: "It was important for us to celebrate 100 years of
music and tradition.
"The tartan reflects our proud past as much as it represents our future."
After playing at Balmoral Castle, the pipe band were performing at Kirk Green in
Ballater.
More information on the band and new tartan is available at
www.grampianpolicepipeband.com
Robert "the kilted" Lamb
Originally Posted by Skweres
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