Following their recent disappointing result at the All England Masters International Championship at Cambridge the Scottish Co-op Band have bounced back with a busy period of activity.

West Lothian final

On 1st June they won through from the first semi-final of the West Lothian Challenge in Bathgate and progressed to the final after beating off the challenge of Unison Kinneil Band.

Under the direction of Russell Gray, they were awarded 195 points by adjudicator Peter Roberts and will now go forward to the final on 22nd June against rivals Whitburn who were the winners of the second semi-final.

The band were one of a number of different groups which provided entertainment for visitors, and performers included an accordionist and piper, a barbershop quartet, and members of the Clydebank Dance SchoolRobert McCorkell

Henry Wood broadcast

Meanwhile on the 8th June the band, under the direction of Archie Hutchison, recorded a radio programme at the Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow to be broadcast later in the year.

Immediately the band had finished the recording it travelled to New Lanark where it took part in the Robert Owen Celebration Day at the New Lanark World Heritage Site.

Anniversary

Robert McCorkell told 4BR: "The band were one of a number of different groups which provided entertainment for visitors, and performers included an accordionist and piper, a barbershop quartet, and members of the Clydebank Dance School.

This event was one of a series of concerts which the band has been giving and which have been organised in conjunction with the Co-operative to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the death of Robert Owen. On this occasion, the band presented a programme of light music under the baton of Raymond Tennant."

Prepare

Over the next week the band will be preparing for the final of the West Lothian Challenge competition which takes place on 22nd June at the Regal Community Theatre in Bathgate.