SBBA life membership for Mark McKeown

Congratulations to Mark McKeown, Eb bass player with Shotts St Patrick’s Band, on receiving his Scottish Brass Band Association life membership medal for lengthy service to the banding community.

Mark has been playing with Shotts since he was a young boy in the early 1970s, starting on the cornet before moving onto the bass. He has been completely dedicated to the band throughout that time, having only ever been a playing member of the one band.

Not only is he a model bandsman, but the current band treasurer, having held the role for around 30 years, and he ensures everything keeps running smoothly behind the scenes.

In his time leading the bass team, Mark and his colleagues were awarded the best bass section at the Borders contest in 2011, as well as contributing to Scottish Championship wins in 2002 and 2005.