MEMORIAL TROPHIES
Professional Drummer of The Day
Kenny Rasmussen Memorial Award
Raised in Port Hope, Kenny Rasmussen was a generational talent. First exposed to the world of Highland Games as a dancer who was taught by his mother, Erwina McKay, Kenny decided early in his life that he wanted to be a drummer.
As such, his natural talent and skillset were evident with instruction being provided by Larry Francais through the Port Hope Legion Pipe Band and by Wayne Jarvis. Through Wayne, Kenny continued to evolve and grow as a solo drummer, but also as a competitor by playing both Grade 3 with the City of Oshawa Pipe Band and Grade 1 with the General Motors Pipe Band.
Competing solo, Kenny had many memorable successes, but none more than winning the North American Open Professional drumming title at Maxville in 1980 at the age of 17. Judged by Alex Duthart, Kenny was able to overcome elite competitors that included Wayne Jarvis, Hugh Cameron, and Reid Maxwell. In addition to this win, Kenny was also the lead drummer for the Port Hope Legion Pipe Band, which won the drum corps title in Grade 4 that same year.
After attending college for percussion, Kenny put his pipe band drumming on hold and began his life as a touring rock drummer playing pubs throughout Ontario, from Wawa to the Hard Rock Café in Toronto. His dream to eventually become a studio musician fell short on June 4, 1984, when Kenny tragically passed away in his sleep at the age of 21 as a result of viral hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that he had developed just a few years earlier.
Amateur Drummer of The Day
John Weese Memorial Award
Drumming played a large role in John Weese’s life, leading to many lasting friendships and unique travel opportunities.
John got his start in drumming at Sea Cadets, in Trenton, taught by Larry Francis. He soon moved on to the Cobourg Legion Pipe Band, joining his brother-in-law, Rich Tapp, who was the lead drummer at the time. When Rich was later transferred to CFB Ottawa, John took over as lead tip. At the age of 19, he led the drum corps when the Cobourg Legion Pipe Band won the Grade 4 North American Pipe Band Championships at the Glengarry Highland Games.
John continued to play all through his life with a number of pipe bands – General Motors/78th Fraser Highlanders, Trenton & District Pipe Band, Brighton Legion Highlanders, Celtic Flair, and CFB Trenton 8 Wing Pipe Band. Both Trenton & District and Brighton Legion Highlanders won multiple North American Championships in Grade 3 and 4.
He also won the Grade 2 Solo drumming at the North American Championship in 1985. John competed at the World Pipe Band Championships twice, in 1978 with General Motors Pipe Band, and in 1997 with the Brighton Legion Highlanders.
John was also privileged to be invited to play in a number of military tattoos with the CFB Trenton 8 Wing Pipe Band – the Fredericia Tattoo in Denmark in 1986, the Scottish World Festival Tattoo in Toronto in 1973, and numerous times at the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk, Virginia.
Professional Piper of The Day
George Lovett Memorial Award
After starting his piping career with the General Electric and Port Hope Legion Pipe Bands, George Lovett founded the Pine Ridge Pipe band in 1965. Later that year the band was sponsored by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 133.
In 1972 Pipe Major Lovett was asked to pipe Flora McDonald into parliament. Pipe Major Lovett took the pipe band to amazing heights.
In 1974 the band competed at the North American Championships held at the Glengarry Highland Games, taking home the championship and becoming the North American Champions in Grade 4. A year later, Pipe Major Lovett took the band to Florida to compete in the Dunedin Highland Festival, again winning 1st place in Grade 4.
Under Pipe Major Lovett’s leadership, the band was chosen to play for her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II during her royal visit to Cobourg in 1973.
Pipe Major Lovett passed away in 2013. At the closing ceremonies of the 50th anniversary of the Cobourg Highland Games held on June 13, 2013, a tribute was held in honour of Pipe Major Lovett’s dedication and commitment to piping. A lone piper played "Lord Lovat's Lament" as a C-130 Hercules did a fly by in his honour.
Amateur Piper of The Day
John (Mac) McFarlane Memorial Award
John "Mac" McFarlane began his piping career when he joined the Guelph Pipe Band, prior to starting five years of World War Il overseas military service with the Royal Canadian Engineers.
John returned in 1945 with the 48th Highlanders Plpes and Drums.
Relocating to Cobourg in 1947, he was the founding Pipe Major of the Port Hope Legion Pipes and Drums in 1959.
During his 5 years as Pipe Major the band grew in numbers, strength and accomplishment, bringing recognition, awards and enjoyment to Port Hope and Cobourg area citizens.