That this House congratulates Croy Silver Band on celebrating its 150th anniversary; notes that the band was founded in Smithstone in 1875 as families moved to the area to work in the coal mines; recognises the role of the parish of Holy Cross following its opening in 1902, and the eventual decision in 1908 for the band to come under the parish and be known as Croy Parish Band, now named Croy Silver Band; acknowledges the band’s long-standing contribution to community life through performances at special and meaningful occasions and its wide musical repertoire; highlights the historic achievement of being the first civilian band invited to perform at a football international between Scotland and England at Hampden Park in 1968; commends the band’s participation in two Papal Masses at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, during the visits of His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1982 and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in 2010; further notes that the band has secured first place at the Scottish Championships on seven occasions and six second-place finishes; further recognises that these achievements enabled the band to represent Scotland at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain on nine occasions, securing third-place finishes in 1961 and 2024; and wishes Croy Silver Band continued success for the future.
