Originally a member of the Caledonian Pipe Band before World War 1, Sandy formed this band in 1920 out of the remnants of "The Dundee Pipe Band" and Willie Rodger Salmond was the first Pipe Major owing to his vast experience. Once things were up and running, Sandy himself took over the reins.   With five years of hard work, it was decided that the band was good enough for a public performance and they competed, unsuccessfully, at Comrie Games. This turned out to be the start of a very successful lifespan, and the band went on to win a number of honours, and even managed to win the Dundee City Police Sports Cup on three successive years. Sandy got to keep it.  The Police sports was a very highly thought of event, and had bands from all over the country competing for the title, with names including the Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh Police Bands, The McLean (Glasgow) and Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia. To win this was indeed a feather in their caps.............But three in a row? I personally remember in the 1980's being presented with the Braemar shield and was amazed to see how many times this band appeared on it in the 1930's. Between 1935 &1939, the City band changed their tartan to the Red Wallace with the purchase of their new uniform. Sandy Chalmers was quite a patriotic man, and a great admirer of William Wallace, hence the choice of tartan. The cost of the new uniform, according to a news paper cutting, was £268. Their highly successful period seemed to be over and superstition suggested that the change of tartan was unlucky. I tend to think that the highly skilled army pipers of the First War were beginning to thin out and the reconstruction of the Pipe Band world was oncoming with the formation of the SPBA. Perhaps the power base of Piping even then was moving west to Glasgow.  Sounds familiar?

At the end of the second world war, the band uniform reverted to Wallace tartan, worn with a Prince Charlie style jacket and waistcoat, short plaid, Balmoral and buckled shoes.      This is shown in our last photograph of Sandy Chalmers.      The sporran in that photograph doesn't fit in, but the photo  was taken on his retiral as Pipe Major and he may have worn his own for the occasion.      In all honesty, it has to be noticed that Sandy Chalmers was one of a rare breed of pipers. He was taught as a child, joined the local Caledonian band, went on to form and teach a highly skilled and successful team of musicians. Add to this that he was a founder member of the Dundee, Perth and Angus Pipe Band Association and then went on to help this to join with Glasgow to form what is now The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.      He remained a life member and past President of the Branch

In the above photo we the City are holding on to the "Sentinel" Cup (right), but what was it for? Who's in the photo? The trophy on the left is the Dundee Police Sports Cup which was won three times in a row by the band and is still held by the family of Pipe Major Sandy Chalmers. Left to Right: Unknown drummer, Claude Miller, Norval Fyall, unknown, Sandy Chalmers (retired Pipe Major) holding the Dundee Police Sports Cup, Jimmy McIntosh, unknown, unknown, Davie Miller holding the cup). The only other one I know is Colin Stewart second from the right Help me fill the spaces.