Todd Bennett The 2003 season represents Todd Bennett's first season competing with the Saffron United Pipe Band. Todd has been playing pipes for many seasons with The Eastern Long Island Police Pipes and Drums We welcome his enthusiasm and zest to improve.
Kim Berlin Kim came to the band in 2002 after moving into the area. Before that she started playing the bagpipes in 2000 with the Glor Na nGael Pipe Band in Rockville Center, NY. She studies with Matt Welch.
Kerry Brennan has been with the band since 1993 when she came to us from the Tara Pipes and Drums in Massapequa. She has been an integral part of the administrative workings of the band from the start. Kerry Co chairs our pipers ball the past few years as well as organized and ran The Benefit for Mary McSwiggan, mother of one of our pipers who was injured in a crash. Kerry also handles the bands merchandising effort as well as much of our marketing. Currently Kerry is a piper with the grade 4 band and plays a set of Naill bagpipes. Her dedication and tireless effort with all the little things that go on in the background are one of the reasons that the band is as successful as it is.
Frank Corrigan Frank is a very talented piper who last season competed with the grade 2 band. However time constraints have limited the time that he has to spend with us as he attends Iona College on a Cross Country Running Scholarship. Frank has a Ranking in the US as a runner. He will play a vital role in helping grade 4 this season. Frank plays a set of Naill bagpipes.
Fred Crockett is from a Pipe Band family. He currently plays drums with us and The Fraternal Order of Police Pipe Band His father and brothers all played Pipes with the New York City Transit War Pipe Band for years where Fred served as the Drum Sgt. In 1978 Fred attended Iona College and was drum Sgt of the schools Pipe Band for 4 years. 1n 1995 Fred joined us after moving out to Long Island where he currently lives with his wife Kathy and their children. Fred's experience as a leader and being a mentor to the younger drummers is something that the band is very fortunate to have.
Michael Crowe This season marks Mike's 20th season with the band. He has competed at every level as the band's Bass drummer. Mike lends his talent to coming back to the competitive arena with the grade 4 band.
Bob Farrell has been a piper with the grade 4 pipe band since he started with us after a brief run as a member of the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band Bob is a student of George Bell. Bob is one of the reasons that trips with the band are enjoyable. Bob lives in the Babylon area with his son and future piper Brendan.
Ed Henderson has been a piper with the grade 4 pipe band since he started with us in 1992. Ed competes as a soloist in the EUSPBA in Grade 3. He has been a student of George Bell since 1995. And has also studied with Seamus Coyne in 2000. Ed is playing a set of Kilgour and Kron bagpipes. He is very proud of playing with grade 4 pipe band during 97' thru 99' prize winning seasons at the Hunter Mountain EUSPBA championships. Ed is a distant relative and big fan of Gold Medallist and reed maker Murray Henderson in Scotland. (though some feel he is more closely related to Harry and the Henderson's !) Ed is married to Melody and they reside in Bellmore.
Thomas Himmel started to learn to play the pipes in 1996 with Tara Pipes and Drums under the instruction of Frank Riggio. He remained with the band until 1999 when he decided to extend his education of the bagpipes and switched over to the Saffron United Pipe Band. He has been competing with the Grade 4 band for the past 3 years and plays a set of Naill bagpipes. In 2002 TC became pipe major of the Grade 4 band. He is currently under the tutelage of Matt Welch, formerly of World Champions SFU. He is competing this year in Grade 4 solos and will look to be upgraded to 3 during the season itself. TC lives in Bellmore NY with his wife Colleen a tenor drummer who he met while playing with Tara.
Bob Jones has played with the band since 1990. Before joining the us, Bob served as Pipe Major of the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band for many years. Since 1990 Bob has served on again and off as P/M of our grade 4 pipe band. His experience, dedication and talent to bring the level of those around him up has consistently kept the band in the prize list. Bob has done this at the expense of advancing through our program into the grade 2 pipe band. His sense of satisfaction at developing other players is motivational. Bob has worked with George Bell for the past few years and successfully competes in amateur grade 4 solo’s. Bob lives in Massapequa Park with his wife Cathy and their three sons; Tom, Shawn and Jamie. Shawn and Jamie who have played with the band in the past. They not only represent Bob’s hard work and pride but we hope to see them back representing the future foundation of our band.
John Keane has been playing pipes with the band since 1967. John was a founding member of the AOH division in Selden, which he still is an active member. He also played with the Suffolk County Police Pipe Band to help them get started. In 1980 John was a founding member of The Rosin Dubh Pipe Band in East Islip John was the founding instructor of the Sioll Na Heirann Pipe Band in Selden. On top of all that John was the Pipe Major of our grade 4 pipe band for a number of years including a few in which they won the Champion Supreme in their grade. John studies Piping with George Bell. He lives with his wife Mary in Islip.
Jack Kehoe 2003 marks Jacks debut season with the band. he comes to us in pursuit of advancing his Piping career from The Eastern Long Island Police Pipes and Drums We welcome him and hope he is successful.
Kevin Magee Has been a piper since 1990 when he came over from Tara Pipes and Drums in Massapequa with his wife Pat whom also played with us for a few years. After leading the grade 4 band for a few years and moving up to the grade 2 band Kevin's work schedule made it difficult to fulfill his obligation with the band and took a sabbatical. Kevin was called back to his passion of playing the pipes this season after the tragic death of his brother Brian who was in the WTC on 9/11. We welcome Kevin back and hope that he benefits from being with the band as much as the band will benefit from having him back. Kevin is a Pupil of George Bell and he competes in the EUSPBA in grade 3 playing a set of Sinclair bagpipes.
Patrick McBride came to the band in 1990 from the Suffolk Police Emerald Society Pipe Band. Pat is a regular in the prize list in amateur grade 4 and studies with George Bell while playing a set of Naill bagpipes. Pat is now brining his son PJ into the ranks as a drummer and takes a lot of pride in playing with the Saffron United Pipe Band. He is a good example of what our program is all about. Providing a family atmosphere that shares a singular focus on getting better in every aspect of being in a Pipe Band. In the long run his thorough attention to detail and appearance has benefited everyone. As the grade 4 band has grown in the maturity of their playing Pat has been a catalyst in getting the most out of every ones talent while not prioritizing taking individual credit for the groups growth.
PJ McBride is a promising young drummer with the grade 4 band who has been exposed to the band for years through his Dad's involvement with the band. He is studying with Richard Baughman. He is also a very talented Lacrosse player at Sachem High School.
Neil McPherson spent many years with The American Celtic Pipe Band before he came to play with us in 1998. Neil spent 3 seasons competing with the grade 2 pipe band before traveling with his work did not afford him the time to focus in on the demanding schedule of playing with a grade 2 pipe band. Neill plays a set of 1800's McDougall bagpipes. He is currently a Director at the Wall Street firm Credit Suisse First Boston. He lives in Huntington with wife Shelia and their three little girls.
Heather McMullan Heather has been with the band since 1988. Before that she played with the American Celtic Pipe Band. She graduated Iona College after playing with their Pipe Band for 4 years. This is Heathers first year as the bands Secretary.
Tom Murphy came to the band back in 1993 with his daughters Erin and Colleen. Tom has been very active in many capacities. He originally played with the Local 25 Electric Workers Pipe Band in Hauppauge, NY. He is very involved in the instructional program that we have in place and has served as the Pipe Major of the Grade 4 band for a few seasons. He competes in The EUSPBA Grade 3 solo's and has been studying with George Bell.
Don Mole 2003 marks Don's debut season with the band. he comes to us in pursuit of advancing his Piping career from The Eastern Long Island Police Pipes and Drums Don has become very involved administratively with many of the events the band has organized. Most recently serving as the Chief Stewart at out "You be the Judge Contest" We welcome him and hope he is successful.
Marty Sexton has been a tireless worker within the band having come up through the ranks. He has played Pipes with our parade band graduating to the grade 5 band and finally he made is mark last season as a steadily improving member of the grade 4 band, Marty lives in Miller Place with his wife Ericka and their daughter Britta. He plays a set of Shepherd bagpipes.