BAND PROFILE


by John Slavin


Manor Cunningham Pipe Band, led by pipe major Gordon Carson (far left) in Grade 3B, at the British Championships, Annan, 2010 through the grades


band didn’t compete until the 1980s when, tutored by pipe major William Walker from the Mitchelburn Pipe Band, they achieved their best season in 1988 winning the Grade 4A All Ireland title as well and three smaller championships at Lagan Valley, Mid-Ulster and Antrim. A young boy from the village was inspired to join the band


following their successful 1988 season and received his first tuition from pipe major William Walker. That young boy, Gordon Carson, is now the pipe major who is leading Manor


Cunningham into Grade 2 this season, and who has steadily brought the band through the grades since 2002. Gordon explained: “William was teaching the band in 1988, along with Victor Wray who taught the drummers. After their successful season they wanted an influx of new members and I was one of them. William taught a lot of young players at that time and he was a good teacher — and a very good march player. “I eventually got out with the band in 1990 when they were


PIPING TODAY • 37


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