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In December of 1979, the Heather Society decided that they no longer wanted to be involved with the pipe band. They decided that they would focus their efforts entirely on the Heather Society Highland Dancers and terminated their involvement in the band. Also at this time, the band was encountering scheduling problems with the Branch #14 Legion on Charlotte Street. The Legion had decided that they needed the dance hall, which the band was using as their practice area, for holding dances on the weekends. This presented a problem because the band no longer had a place to practice. It was at this time that the band was offered sponsorship by Royal Canadian Legion Branch #53 on Bayside Drive in East Saint John by the Branch President, Ron Harding.
Other Legion Branches in the Saint John
area had also offered sponsorship for the band, but the Heather Legion Pipe
Band decided to accept Branch #53's offer. One of the reasons that the band
decided to accept Branch #53's offer is that the Legion offered to raise their
building and construct a basement for the band to practice in. This solved any
scheduling problems concerning the use of the building because the band would
have exclusive use of the basement and they would have their own entrance.
Also, the band was intrigued with the history concerning Branch #53. Branch
#53's full name is Royal Canadian Legion Branch #53 - Jervis Bay Memorial
Branch. Branch #53 is named for H.M.S. Jervis Bay, a British merchant vessel
that was sunk by the German warship, the Admiral Scheer, during World War II.
Upon completion of the construction of the basement at Branch #53, the Heather Legion Pipe Band changed its official name to The Jervis Bay (Memorial) Pipe Band and took up residence in East Saint John. The band, under its new name, appointed Fred Martin as President, Larry Wilson as Vice-President, and Bob McCavour as Secretary/Treasurer. John "Sonny" Thomas was appointed as the Liason Officer between the Legion and the band.
The Jervis Bay (Memorial) Pipe Band continued to participate in many national and international events and competitions, including two more trips to Scotland in 1983 and 1991. The band plans to compete again at the World Championships, in Scotland, during the summer of 2000.
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