Honorary Life Membership 2009: Dr. James Merryweather and Chris GutteridgeThe Directors of the International Guild of Town Pipers have conferred honorary life membership of the Guild upon Dr. James Merryweather and Chris Gutteridge, for their research over many years, on the history of waits in England, and for their role as founders of the Waits Website.
2011: Roger Richardson
On the occasion of his retirement as a regular member of The York Waits following the annual Yule Riding procession through the streets of the city on December 21st 2011, a celebration was held at York Brewery. In recognition of his membership of the York Waits since the 1970s, Roger Richardson was presented with a certificate of honorary life membership of the International Guild of Town Pipers in the presence of his fellow waits from York, representatives of the waits of Colchester, Doncaster, Kings Lynn and Leeds, and other friends. Below is an acknowledgement letter from Roger, including an account of how it all started.
It was a great surprise and honour to be awarded an honorary life membership of the Guild following the Sherriff's Riding in York on December 21st 2011.
2018: Tony Barton and the Stadspijpers van 's-Hertogenbosch
In 2018. Life membership was bestowed upon Tony Barton and the Stadspijpers. Tony for his part (back in 1977) in the re-creation of the York Waits, who have been the inspiration for all other Waites Bands in UK; and the Stadspijpers for their exceptional service to the Guild by organising several of our festivals in Den Bosch. |
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