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Experience
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I have been playing The Great Highland Bagpipe for over 25 years now, both solo and in several Pipe Bands.
I was initially taught by the late John Nichol of Edinburgh and over the years I also received tuition from Duncan MacDonald (formerly Cameron Highlanders), the late Pipe Major Evan MacRae (Cameron Highlanders) and for 6 years (until his death in 1992), the well known piping judge Mr Norman Meldrum. In addition I have also completed various short courses with other prominent pipers.
For 10 years (1989-99), I was also a personal piper to HM The Queen at Balmoral Castle.
This involved piping at many formal, informal and private occasions: dinners, dances, parties, birthdays, barbecues and at the wedding of HRH Princess Anne and Commander Tim Laurence in 1992.
On numerous occasions, by invitation, I also played for HM The Queen Mother at Birkhall.
Other events that I have played at include:
Dinners and morning call for Farquarson of Invercauld; Dinners and occasions for private owners at Mar Lodge; Captain Ramsay of Mar at Inverey; 1996 NATO Air Chiefs Conference in Germany and Highland dancing displays for the Braemar Royal Highland Society and other events.
My most recent engagement was piping at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews 250th Anniversary Dinners in the presence of HRH Prince Andrew in June 2004.
I also play as a guest piper with Queensland Irish Association P.B. in Brisbane, Australia, which has involved me playing at ANZAC Day services, various parades and concerts including The Lord Mayor's Concert for the Bali Bomb Victim's Appeal (November 2002).
I am presently based in St.Andrews, Scotland where I am resident piper at Strathtyrum House, which is owned by the Cheape family. The Cheape's have strong piping connections going back many years.
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