Kenneth Bryan Bice

Ken first began his military career as a Boy Piper in November 1961 with the Toronto Scottish Regiment and when he became of age to enlist with the Canadian Armed Forces Militia, he enlisted in September 1963 with the 48th Highlanders of Canada as a Piper.

Ken took the required basic training to become a qualified trained militiaman as well qualified in various grades levels for piping as a Piper with the Canadian Forces.

While serving with the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums, he was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) for service.

Ken, due to commitments in his private avocation, was required to relocate out of town and Ken decided to leave the Canadian Armed Forces in March 1978 as at that time as it was too difficult to travel into the Toronto area for regimental and band functions.

Ken continued his piping career however and upon his return the Greater Toronto Area he was asked to take on the appointment as Pipe Major of the 25 Toronto Service Battalion in 1980. The 25 Toronto Service Battalion’s Pipes and Drums were made up initially of former members of the 1st Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada’s Pipes and Drums which were located in Toronto. That regiment was struck off strength in 1965 and their pipes and drums continued as a band within the regiment’s association, until they were asked to form a pipes and drums for the 25 Toronto Service Battalion in 1970. The 25 Toronto Service Battalion had four positions open within the band for serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, but they were not positions for musician’s but were permissions for other military categories. The four positions were to be held by the Pipe Major, Pipe Sergeant, Drum Major and Drum Sergeant (Lead Drummer). As the Pipe Major who held the appointment was retiring and was overage to be a member of the Canadian Armed Forces his position was held by another serving member (a side drummer) with the band. Ken decided to not re-enlist at the time and was appointed the Pipe Major of the Pipes and Drums and served as a Canadian Armed Forces Contracted Volunteer Serving Member.

After serving several years with the 25 Toronto Service Battalion, Ken was relocated again out of town due to his private avocations in 1985. Ken was at the same time he was serving as Pipe Major of the 25 Toronto Service Battalion Pipes and Drums also the Pipe Major of The Scarborough Pipe Band which was also the same Pipe Band sponsored by Oakwood Branch, Royal Canadian Legions Branch 73. Ken continued to serve as Pipe Major of that band for about 12 years from 1978-1990.

Ken did return to the Great Toronto Area but did not become a member of any pipe bands at that time, but he was involved with several civilian pipe bands, including the Scarborough/RCL. BR. 73 Pipe Band as well as being a band instructor with several other Royal Canadian Legions Bands, including Coronation Branch in Rexdale, Ajax Branch in the Pickering/Ajax area and helped out with the Sutton Legion on several occasions.

In 2009 Ken was approached by the regiment he started his piping career with, now known as The Toronto Scottish (Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother’s Own) Regiment to take on the appointment as Pipe Major in order to stabilized and assist in the rebuilding of the Pipes and Drums as they a number of pipers and drummers leave the band that years. Ken however was still too busy with his private avocations to take on the appointment at that time.

Then in 2011 the Pipe Major that the Toronto Scottish Regiment had recruited by seconding a Warrant Officer from the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums who had decided after about 16 months to return to the 48th Highlanders. That Pipe Major recommended that the Regiment contact Ken again and after Ken met with the Commanding Officer, Deputy Commanding Office and RSM he accepted the appointment for three years and was appointed Pipe Major of the Regiment in October 2011. The task was to stabilize the band and to recruit or train pipers and drummers who were serving members or contracted volunteers. Ken was at this time just over the age to be able to re-enlist and took on the appointment as a Canadian Armed Forces Contracted Volunteer Serving Members.

Ken decided not to continue past his three year commitment and retried as Pipe Major in October 2014 after having stabilized the band and recruited various volunteer and serving pipers and drummers to the band.

Ken today still continues to pipe for various occasions but has not affiliated himself with a pipe band at this time. He continues to teach various piping students of various ages. Ken has always enjoyed composing music for the Great Highland Bagpipe and has many tunes which has had composed, adapted from other songs or tunes not composed for the bagpipes and has arranged many pipe tunes composed by others for the use of solo players or pipe bands. Many of his compositions, adaptations and some of his arrangements have been published. Ken chose after publishing his 1st book of music to use the alternative use of a web site to offer copies of his compositions, adaptations and arrangements to pipers or pipe bands or anyone that wished to have a copy of his music for free.

Ken who is also an ordained clergyman has also assisted various groups in the capacity as their chaplain. Ken also assisted various Royal Canadian Legions Branches overs the years in the capacity as a chaplain for specific occasions and many times as a Piper. Ken was also the chaplain for the annual Remembrance Day Sunrise Service at Prospect Cemetery which was held under the direction and planning of Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 74, Earls Court Legion until that legion amalgamated with another legion. His last service as chaplain for them was on November 11, 2017.

Over the years from 1961 to 2014 Ken was involved with the Canadian Armed Forces as either a Serving Member of Contracted Volunteer Serving Member for over 23 years and primarily served during what is known as the Cold War Era.

The Bice Family also sponsored Ken’s adopted father’s Veteran’s Banner for Joseph Delco Bice who was a veteran of both WWI and WWII for several years.

Ken has been as resident of Uxbridge, since 2003 when he and his wife Margaret and mother-in-law Phyllis Cummins relocated to Uxbridge from Aurora, Ontario.