About the Band

Kinneil Band was founded in 1858 by the miners of Kinneil Pit and the workers of Wilson's Kinneil Iron Works in their home town of Bo'ness. The founder members decided to name their new band ‘Kinneil Band', famously known since that day. The bands founding members donated £5 each to enable the purchase of the band's first set of instruments.

In 1894 Kinneil Band led a parade of striking miners to a meeting with miners from nearby collieries. The management of Kinneil Colliery did not look kindly upon the support the band showed and they duly notified the band that the lease of rehearsal facilities was cancelled. Undaunted, the band then began raising funds to build their own bandhall. Astonishingly, in just over one year enough money was raised to commence building. The ground for the hall was granted to them by the Duke of Hamilton and the total cost of the hall was £350. The current bandhall exists in the same location today on Linlithgow Road Bo'ness.

The band steadily increased its reputation and continued to perform at major events around the country up until the First World War. During this time the band lost many of its members to the forces but the band still continued to practice during the Great War until the surviving members returned from the front line.

In 1953 the band decided that a change to traditional brass should occur. The band's name then changed to ‘Kinneil Colliery Silver Band' to reflect the support the band received from the miners of Kinneil Colliery. The band's most notable claims to fame came in 1959 when they won the second section national championships and in 1965, it was placed fourth in the National Championships of Great Britain despite a disastrous ending to the test piece Triumphant Rhapsody.

Kinneil maintained a strong link to the local mine workers, who subscribed to the band until the colliery closed in 1983. Shortly after the closure of the colliery, support was received from the National Union of Public Employees. In 1993, NUPE amalgamated with the other public sector unions to form UNISON and the band changed its name to UNISON Kinneil Band to mark their continued support.

In 2019, disaster struck when a massive fire tore through Newtown Park, the home of Bo'ness United Football Club, and gutted the bandhall. Over a century of trophies, memorabilia, and irreplaceable items were lost in the blaze. Yet, even in the face of this heartbreaking setback, the band’s determination remained unwavering. Today, Kinneil Band continues to thrive, carrying forward its proud tradition of music and community.

Conductors

  • Allan Ramsay

    Musical Director

  • Joshua Parkhill

    Resident Conductor

Cornets

  • Dhani Miller

    Principal Cornet

  • William McLaughlin

    Solo Cornet

  • Willie Gardner

    Solo Cornet

  • William Tawn

    Solo Cornet

  • Owen Downs

    Soprano Cornet

  • Vacant

    Repiano Cornet

  • Dianne Doherty

    2nd Cornet

  • Beth Drury

    2nd Cornet

  • Ruth Kelly

    3rd Cornet

  • Scott Gardner

    3rd Cornet

Horns

  • Cheryl Saunders

    Flugel Horn

  • Samuel Duzinkewycz

    Solo Horn

  • Roman Scott

    1st Horn

  • Robert Doherty

    2nd Horn

Euphoniums / Baritones

  • Andrew Meikle

    Solo Euphonium

  • Lorna Bryce

    2nd Euphonium

  • Ian Campbell

    Solo Baritone

  • Billie-Jane Hamilton

    2nd Baritone

Trombones

  • Brian Deans

    Solo Trombone

  • Fiona Drury

    2nd Trombone

  • Davie Frame

    Bass Trombone

Basses

  • Raymond Millar

    Solo Eb Bass

  • Jamie Quin

    2nd Eb Bass

  • Neill McDonald

    Solo Bb Bass

  • Jaiden Currie

    2nd Bb Bass

Percussion

  • Michael McLaughlin

    Percussion

  • Camy Marr

    Percussion

  • Vacant

    Percussion

  • Vacant

    Percussion