David Machell - Musician, Educator, Friend, writes
The Saint Patrick's Pipe Band of Glastonbury, CT. Largely started by my Mother's five brothers who played the pipes and my grandfather who served as the band treasurer when they came to this country from county Armagh, Ireland in 1923 and settled in Manchester, CT, known in those days as a manufacturer of silk and other textiles (the Cheney Mills--a strong attraction for immigrants). Since then, I had cousins belong to the band, as well as my Father, Ernest Machell. Collectively I had 20 years in the Band (that's a lot of wind!!). I started playing at 7 years of age. The first parade I was in was in Holyoke, MA. We accompanied a car with John and Jackie Kennedy in the back seat! That was 1958 two years before he ran for president. We got to play for many famous people because there were probably only two Irish bagpipe bands in the eastern U.S., most were Scottish, of course.The Band has been going strong since its beginnings in the 1930's. I hope many years into the future!
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