MineArchive
Polkemmet Colliery Pipe Band
| Category | Music |
|---|---|
| Dates | Whitrigg Colliery Pipe Band in the 1930s; Mathieson and Kilpatrick join 1980; From Celtic Roots 1985; they return to Shotts after 1986; David Barnes pipe-major from 1988; band closed in the late 1990s. |
A Whitburn pipe band that began in the 1930s as the Whitrigg Colliery Pipe Band, took the Polkemmet Colliery name and sponsorship, and in the 1980s under Robert Mathieson and Jim Kilpatrick became one of the leading Grade 1 bands in the world.
The mining history in this record
Many Scottish pipe bands were sponsored by and named after collieries. In the 1930s coal mining in Whitburn sponsored the Whitrigg Colliery Pipe Band, which rose to Grade 1 under Pipe-Major Johnny Barnes and later changed its sponsorship and name to Polkemmet Colliery, after the largest pit in the town. Its juvenile band trained young players, among them Robert Mathieson.
In 1980 Mathieson and the drummer Jim Kilpatrick came from Shotts and Dykehead to become Polkemmet's pipe-major and leading drummer. The band quickly became a force in Grade 1, finishing second several times to the Strathclyde Police at a time when that band was winning six World Championships in a row, and beating it at smaller contests. Its 1985 studio album From Celtic Roots is still remembered, its drum corps of twelve snare drummers was unheard of at the time, and it is credited with making waistcoats the standard pipe-band uniform.
People
Johnny Barnes, pipe-major of the Whitrigg band. Robert Mathieson, pipe-major from 1980. Jim Kilpatrick, leading drummer from 1980. David Barnes, pipe-major from 1988. James King, leading drummer.
Legacy today
After the 1986 season Mathieson and Kilpatrick returned to Shotts, and many players moved to other Grade 1 bands. Polkemmet went on to win major championships under Pipe-Major David Barnes, son of Johnny Barnes, and leading drummer James King, but lost more players in the late 1990s and closed down. The colliery itself never reopened after flooding during the 1984-85 strike.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each tagged with how solidly it's grounded and attached to the source(s) that support it. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- In the 1930s the Whitrigg Colliery Pipe Band, sponsored by Whitburn's coal mining, rose to Grade 1 under Pipe-Major Johnny Barnes and later changed its sponsorship and name to Polkemmet Colliery. (later recollection) 1
- In 1980 Jim Kilpatrick left Shotts and Dykehead to become leading drummer of Polkemmet, with Robert Mathieson as pipe-major. (documented fact) 1,2
- In the 1980s Polkemmet finished second several times to the Strathclyde Police, then winning six consecutive World Championships. (later recollection) 1
- The band's 1985 studio album was From Celtic Roots. (documented fact) 1
- Polkemmet lost players in the late 1990s and ultimately closed down. (later recollection) 1
Mines
- Polkemmet Colliery — West Lothian
The band took the Polkemmet Colliery name and sponsorship after beginning as the Whitrigg Colliery Pipe Band in Whitburn.
Real-world mining concepts used here
Sources
- (secondary) The Polkemmet Pipe Band of the 1980s: a pipes|drums Reunion Interview - Part 1 — pipes|drums
- (secondary) Jim Kilpatrick — Wikipedia
Record created: 19 October 2026 · Last researched: 19 October 2026