Bo’ness Federation pipe-band was formed in 1919. The first Pipemajor was Willie McComb, after he was demobbed from the army at the end of the first World War he went back to working as a miner in Longriggend. In 1919 Willie McComb moved to Bo’ness to work at Cadells number 6 pit at Carriden.

Willie McComb who was a piper in the Highland Light Infantry contacted known pipers in Bo’ness to form another pipeband as Bo’ness already had the Bo’ness Burgh band who were formed at the end of the nineteenth century. After he had recruited enough players they practised in the Federation Rooms so they called the band the Bo’ness Federation Pipe-Band. The leading drummer also had experience in the Army, Jimmy Rodgers was a drum sergeant in the Royal Scots, the secretary was Harry Allen who remained in the job until he died in 1956.

Willie McComb only lasted 6years as pipemajor as he emigrated to Australia in 1925. The next Pipemajor was Willie Esplin but it didn’t work out as he lived in Dennyand the transport between Denny and Bo’ness was not very good. 

The first pipemajor from Bo’ness was Michael McIntyre who was a miner at Kinneil colliery, his son pat also played in the band. The next pipemajor was also a miner in Kinneil Colliery, Dan McIntosh became pipemajor about 1930 and remained for about 28years.in 1939 when War began some of the pipers and drummers had to go into the forces so the band started to recruit ladies and by 1942 the ladies band could play at functions by themselves. Around this time bands were booming in Bo’ness. The Bo’ness Federation Pipe-Band could put out two bands and another band called the Ivor Liddel band started up in 1941 but finished in 1948. In 1947 this band made history, they had 3 generations of pipers playing at Bo’ness Fair, Michael McIntyre, his son Pat and grandson Peter.

In the 50’s  the Bo’ness Federation pipeband started to think about playing in pipeband contests so they joined the Stirlingshire Branch of the Pipeband Association and began entering some local contests.

In 1955 the band had discussions with the Natioinal Union of mineworkers of Kinneil Colliery about financing the band as the band wished to take part in more pipeband competitions so it was agreed that the band would change its name to Kinneil Colliery pipeband and the miners of the Colliery would pay subscriptions for the band and if the Colliery closed down the band would go back to its original name. under pipemajor Dan McIntosh and leading drummer Charlie Williamson the band started to practising for contests and in 1957 the  band won their first contest when they won the Grade 3 contest at the Crook of Devon in Fife.

In 1958 Dan McIntosh retired and Jim Barrowman, his nephew took over as pipemajor. After a good season in 1959 the band were promoted to Grade 2 but they didn’t have much success the only highlight coming in 1962when they were placed 3^rd at Cowal Games. At the end of the season Jim Barrowman left to join the newly formed B.P. pipeband in Grangemouth.

Andrew Motion was appointed pipemajor. With not much success in Grade 2 the band were relegated back to Grade3 and the drum corp. left to join the B.P. band.

The band played a lot better playing back in grade 3 and were Champion of champions in 1964 but the band requested to stay in Grade3 because we had a young drum corp. From 1965 to 1973 the band struggled to compete with lack of players. Three pipemajors from outside Bo’ness had spells in the pipemajors job, Tom McLeod, John Rennie and roddy McDonald but couldn’t attract any pipers or drummers. The National Union of Mineworkers had a meeting with the band committeeand they agreed to start a youth policy because there had been no young players learned since Dan McIntosh was pipemajorand that had led to the downfall of the band.

 The band put adverts for young players in the local newspaper and the response was very good, Willie Simpson was given the task of teaching about 20 young pipers and Jim(Peem) Williamson about 10 side drummers. In 1975 the young band played at the Miners Gala, Bo’ness Fair and more local Gala days. In 1976 the band started to compete again, they started a different procedure, the aim was to keep a Novice juvenile band to give the young players  more experience before they moved up to the big band so the best players went into the Grade4 band and the less experienced played in the Novice Band.

In 1976 the grade 4 band with only 2 adults, Willie Simpson and pipesergeant Andrew Motion in the band won 2 contests and were 2^nd in 2 contests and after a better year in 1977 the band was promoted to grade3. The Novice juvenile band had a good year in 1979, they won the Scottish Championship, 3^rd in the World championship and 4^th in the Cowal championship. In 1981 Ronald Motion took over as pipemajor of the grade3 band but he left after one season. At the end of 1984 a good number of players left the Bo’ness area to get work in different parts of Scotland and England, so the band had to join the grade3 and Novice band together and were allowed to play in Grade4. Kinneil Colliery closed in 1983, the Bo’ness Royal British Legion said they would sponsor them so the band was named the Bo’ness R.B.L. pipeband.

In 1985 the band won 15 contests which included the Scottish, British European and Cowal championships but were only 4^th in the World championship, this is the only championship the band has failed to win over the years. Ronnie Motion was appointed pipemajor of the Grade 4 band in 1990 but at the end of the season the band had only about 4 pipers left, Linlithgow pipeband were having the same problems so the two bands joined together under Pipemajor Willie Simpson but they kept the Novice band going. After some years  both bands got more players into their ranks the Bo’ness players joined up with the Novice Juvenile band and played in Grade 4 in 1996. At the end of 1996 Willie Simpson gave up the pipemajors job in the grade4 band to concentrate on the Novice Juvenile band. In 1997 Julie McIssac who left the band in 1984 to work in England became the bands first lady pipemajor but after one year she returned to England. In 1997, 50 years after after the first 3generations of one family played at Bo’ness fair in 1947, 3 generations , Willie Simpson his sons , Billy (drummer) and  Iain, grand-daughter Donna and grandson Jonathon (pipers) play at the Fair in 1997.

In 1998 Willies nephew Colin McCluckie returned to the band after a spell playing with Boghall and Bathgate Grade 1 band and was appointed pipemajor. In 2000 the band were Champion of Champions in Grade 4B and in 2003 they were Champion of Champions in Grade 4A and were upgraded to grade3B where they are competing at his time picking a few prizes along the way.