Greetings from Madeira

[KenMac]

Good Morning all from a Wintery Madeira.
I was attracted to the site when looking for information on the Bulawayo Pipe band.
There I found a closed thread started by Macwilken who posted

I know it's a long shot, but does anyone know any "Rhodies" who were members of Scottish groups or organisations in Rhodesia? I recently read of a semi-official pipe band with 2nd Battalion, the Royal Rhodesia Regiment (re-named the Rhodesia Regiment after 1970) that was sponsored by the Caledonian Society of Bulawayo in Barnes' [/COLOR]The Uniforms & History of the Scottish Regiments and wondered how active the Scottish community was in Rhodesia?

I've heard tell of a St. Andrew's Society of Salisbury (now Harare), but given the current situation on the ground there now, I doubt they're very active.

No politics here, just a request for information.

Todd

Well in fact before moving to Cape Town 33 years ago I also lived in Bulawayo, and had the thread still been open I wanted to tell Todd that there was an excellent Pipe Band in Bulawayo.It operated out of the Drill Hall used by the 2nd Battalion of the then Rhodesia Regiment.
With the passing of Rhodesia into Zimbabwe this proud regiment is no more.

The Scots were always very active in the Rhodesias, and had Caledonian Societies in Bulawayo and Salisbury (now Harare).

I had two friends who played in the Bulawayo Pipe Band, the Thompson Twins. One a drummer and one a piper.
Whilst still at school and a drummer in the School's bugle band, I was fortunate enough to practise at times with the Pie Band Drummers in the drill Hall..
I remember that then then Bass Drummer was a recent arrival from Scotland who was purportately the World Champion Bass Drummer. He was certainly a great drum instructor.
So if Todd perhaps sees this he will have an answer to his question back in 2010.

[cessna152towser]

from the Scottish Borders.
I have visited Madeira many times as my late wife had a timeshare week at the Alto Lido (on the coast road between Funchal and Camara de Lobos), which I fell heir to after her death.

[KenMac]

The next time you visit Madeira, contact me by private message and I will give you my contact details here so that you can join us for a cup of coffee or something. We live in the country in a small village called Estreito da Calheta, about 35kms from Funchal.

[JohntheBiker]

from Toronto, Canada

[Grizzly]

A warm welcome from Southampton UK.

[Chas]

Hello Ken,

Welcome to XMarks from north of you in Norfolk, England.

[Tomak]

Welcome, from Southern California.

[ASinclair]

Hello, KenMac!

[WillowEstate]

Hi and a very warm welcome from sunny Queensland!

[cessna152towser]

The next time you visit Madeira, contact me by private message and I will give you my contact details here so that you can join us for a cup of coffee or something. We live in the country in a small village called Estreito da Calheta, about 35kms from Funchal.

Thanks, will do, though it is unlikely I will be in Madeira during 2014.