The Band can trace its formation back to 1961 when a couple of exiled Scots and two ex-army pals got together for a "blow" on their bagpipes. Through a friend, a practice room was acquired, at the Esso Research establishment at Milton near Abingdon, and so the Band was born. In these early days members played in their own Clan kilts.

In 1962, through the good offices of Dr Bill Hamilton, a surgeon at the Churchill Hospital and a keen piper, the Band was able to use the recreation hall at Littlemore Hospital as its headquarters. This arrangement continued for 25 years until the closure of the hall. It was during this period that the Band purchased Cameron of Erracht tartan kilts and plaids and became known as the "Oxford & District Caledonian Pipe Band".

In April 1978 the Band was registered as a charitable organisation with the Charities Commission and adopted the Red Hamilton tartan in honour of Dr Hamilton, who by this time had become the Band's first President, and was renamed "Oxford Caledonian Pipes & Drums", a name by which it is known today. Dr Hamilton, who died in 1998, was succeeded as President by Norman Baird, a member of the Oxford Band in its early days and a former piper and founder member of the Beeston (Nottingham) Pipe Band.

From 1961 until his death in 1987, the Band was lead by Pipe Major Charlie Elliot, ex Highland Light Infantry. In 1987 he was succeeded by Scott Weston, formerly with 2nd Battalion Scots Guards; Scott continued as Pipe Major, building up the Band to competition standard, until he stood down in 1997. The Band is now lead by Pipe Major Ian Knight - a former piper with the Black Watch.

Since 1987 the Band has changed its headquarters on several occasions, having moved from Piers School, Littlemore in the early 1990s to the Brasenose Centre in Cowley; in 1996 it moved to Oxford Options (a property owned by Oxfordshire County Council) in Horspath Driftway. In 2003 the band moved practice halls and now meets every Thursday evening, from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the Headquarters of the City of Oxford Silver Band. Click here for directions. Free tuition is given, at all levels, in both piping and drumming, and new members are always welcome.

In 1993 the Band purchased new uniforms in the Black Stewart tartan which is the tartan worn at Band engagements around the County and beyond. The Band’s appearances in the City of Oxford are well known at events such as the Lord Mayor's Parade, Remembrance Day Service, Hospital fetes and other charitable events. In 1985 and 1995 the Band was privileged to represent Oxford in Bonn and in 1989 members were ambassadors for the City at the 3 October celebrations in Leiden. In the past few years the Band has visited both Holland and France, as part of the commemorations celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the ending of World War II; performances have been given in Calais as part of the town's cultural activities.

The Band holds several money - raising events during the year, the main one being the Burns' Night Ceilidh held each January; income from Street Collections held in towns around the County is supplemented by appearances at carnivals, fetes, parades, weddings and other social functions.