They are the 12 pipers, seven drummers and a drum major - the City of Leeds Pipe Band. The instruments they play are the great Highland bagpipes. As the bonnets nod and the kilts swing past, it looks like a Scottish invasion of the West Riding - but there are only fours Scots in the band. The other 17 are Sassenachs. The band was founded in 1960 round a nucleus of three men, none of them Scots - Bob Webster (now Sgt. Drummer), Sidney Taylor (now Drum Major), and Jeffrey Nixon (Pipe Major and Musical Director). "We hadn't a penny in the bank," recalled Jeffrey Nixon, a schoolteacher. "We held a jumble sale to raise money to buy second-hand kilts and plaids." The band are pictured during rehearsals in Holbeck and the photo is one of 11 charting a decade of memories from around the suburb during the 1960s. The photos are a mix from the YEP archive, West Yorkshire Archive Service and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. They also run heritage blog The Secret Library Leeds, which provides a behind the scenes look at the Central Library and highlights from its special collections, including rare books hidden away in the stacks. READ MORE: Memories of lost Leeds pubs in Beeston, Holbeck and Cottingley LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
1. Leeds. 6th January 1967
City of Leeds Pipe Band lines up at rehearsal in St. Edward's Church Hall in January 1967. At the head is Drum Major Sidney Taylor. | YPN Photo: YPN
2. Holbeck in the 1960s
Looking from wasteland on the south side of Sweet Street West towards the junction with Derwent View in the centre in 1969. No. 22 Sweet Street West is at the end of the terrace followed by nos. 2 to 16 Derwent View. On the far left is no. 24 Sweet Steet West. Moving further back are various industrial premises as the view looks towards the city centre. One of the Italianate towers of the Tower Works is seen in the centre with the Town Hall tower beyond this. | Eric Jaquier Photo: Eric Jaquier
3. Holbeck in the 1960s
On the left the image in number 1 Czar Street with the entrance to number 3 at the corner with Bridge Court. This corner door and shop front style window on the left suggest that this was once a retail property. The entrance to the residential section of the property is on the right where a woman is stood by the doorstep with a dog at her feet. Pictured in November 1965. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
4. Holbeck in the 1960s
Even numbered back-to-back houses on Sheldon Street pictured in November 1966. Washing hangs across the street. Piles of rubble and earth can be seen in the foreground. Part of Nineveh Crescent is visible on the right edge. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
5. Holbeck in the 1960s
A view looking from Nineveh Road onto properties on the odd numbered side of Chelsea Street in November 1966. In the background, Meynell Heights housing development is under construction. These houses are back-to-backs and have been deemed unhealthy. After slum clearance, new houses were built on this site. | West Yorkshire Archive Service Photo: West Yorkshire Archive Service
6. Holbeck in the 1960s
Looking along back-to-back houses on Chelsea Street in the direction of Nineveh Road, numbers run from 30 to 24 left to right. The rest of Chelsea Street has already been demolished. At the time of this view, much of this area was gradually being cleared to make way for new housing. Pictured in November 1966. | Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net