About Great Glen Piping

I began piping at age 4, taught by Mr Hugh Wilson, ex Scots Guards, and ex Pipe Major of Camelon Pipe Band. At age 10, I started competing in the local solo circuit, taking prizes in competitions such as Stirlingshire Provincial Mod and the now defunct annual Muirheads Pipe Band Junior solo competition.

At 14, still with Hugh, I regularly played for Highland/Country Dancers, and Central Scotland Police Concert Party, basically a ceilidh band. I played at Folk festivals in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, and came to the attention of Pipe Major Angus MacDonald, then probably the foremost player in the world, who recruited me for the Scots Guards.

I joined the Scots Guards as a Junior Soldier in 1980, and played with the Guards Depot Piping School (GDPS) under Dixie Ingram and Sandy Davidson, taking prizes in Grades 2 and 3. I also won best piper at the GDPS and played at my first State Banquet, for President Ronald Reagan.

In 1982, I joined the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, and won the Battalion solo competition in November that year. The battalion Pipes and Drums was in top form in 1983, and we won the European Championships in Grade 2 that year. We then competed in Grade 1, albeit not until 1986, due to an overseas tour. During my time in the Guards, I played at most major occasions, including The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and Trooping the Colour.

I joined Strathclyde Police in 1986, and played with various bands, including Folk Bands, until 1994, when I joined Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, under Pipe Major Harry McAleer. I played for six years in this, my first stint with “The Polis” until leaving at the end of the 1999 season. I was engaged to instruct the Malaysian Army Pipers in Kuala Lumpur, and also played in Moscow, Singapore, Cyprus and Sweden. The band was never out of the top six in any competition during this period.

Despite to Policing commitments 2000 - 2003, I still managed to play with my Folk Group, The White Heather Tubes.

I returned to Strathclyde Police Pipe Band in 2004, and competed with the band until 2005, when I was asked to engage in a community involvement exercise with Glasgow and Lanarkshire Army Cadet Force. This involved setting up a Pipes and Drums for the Battalion, which I was fortunate enough to do as part of my job. I still played with Strathclyde, but no longer competed. I attended New Hampshire Highland Games in 2004.

I found myself heavily involved in teaching cadets, and was Pipe Major of;

• Edinburgh and South Scotland Air Training Corps
• Scotland and Northern Ireland Region Air Training Corps
• Glasgow and Lanarkshire Army Cadets.

At the annual Cadet Piping and Drumming Concentration in Inverness, I instructed the above, plus all UK Air Cadet Pipers and Drummers. I found that the buzz of instructing and seeing youngsters take pleasure in progressing was even better than taking top places at band competitions. In 2008, I became an instructor at the Scottish Police College, where amongst other duties, I was the resident piper.

Whilst at the Scottish Police College I helped found, and became Pipe Major, of The Tulliallan Pipes and Drums, based in Kincardine, Fife.

In late 2010, I had the idea of starting Great Glen Piping and in preparation, sat and obtained all my Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board Certificates.

I was also asked by, Pipe Major Gavin Walker, to play with Shotts and Dykehead, and did so for the 2011 season. The Drum Corps under Jim Kilpatrick, won World Champions and Champions of Champions that season.

In 2011, I became Pipe Major of the 6th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland (Association), and assisted in the instruction and setting up of a band there.

I also returned to solo competition in 2011, and will continue on that circuit for the foreseeable future.

Also see my Cadet and Teaching History and Bands I Have Played With information.

Please review my Booking Information to book me for your tuition.