About me
I’ve been playing the bagpipes for over 30 years. I started when I was nine, after becoming fascinated by the pipers I saw on family visits to Scotland. My family has roots in Aberdeenshire, and we spent a lot of time travelling up to see relatives when I was growing up.
My mother found me a tutor in my hometown of Chesterfield: Pipe Major Alec Maclean of the Seaforth Highlanders, Mansfield branch. After about a year of lessons, Alec introduced me to the pipe band. I was its youngest member and soon found myself playing at street parades and Indian weddings.
Alec later encouraged me to join Ashbourne Pipes and Drums, where I began competing in solo and band competitions. I stayed for several years before moving to Sheffield for university. Over the years, I’ve competed with various pipe bands at major championships, including the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.
Playing at events
My first solo booking was at 14, playing in the New Year at the Highwayman pub in Baslow. Since then, I’ve performed at thousands of weddings, parties, funerals, corporate events, Remembrance parades, Burns Suppers and Hogmanay celebrations.
Some bookings have taken me to places I wouldn’t have expected when I first picked up a chanter. I’ve played at Sir Alex Ferguson’s 80th birthday and for arriving fans at Manchester United and Derby rugby games. I’ve also travelled to weddings and parties in Slovenia, Croatia, Spain, France and Ibiza.
Closer to home, I’ve played at Burns Suppers for Baldwin’s Omega in Sheffield and at Masonic events, including for Dore Lodge. I’m based in Sheffield and regularly travel across Yorkshire and the surrounding regions. International bookings are always welcome.
I also enjoy playing in care homes across Yorkshire and Derbyshire, including Aire View in Headingley and Wykebeck Court in Leeds. St Andrew’s Day and Burns Night are popular occasions, but it’s always lovely to see people enjoying familiar tunes at any time of year.
A few memorable bookings
I’ve been lucky enough to play at some memorable events across Yorkshire. I performed for the relaunch of the Flying Scotsman at York railway station and have piped passengers off on the Northern Belle from both Swinton and Sheffield stations.
I’ve played at birthday parties for Emmerdale stars and helped create a promotional advert for rugby’s Magic Weekend, filmed on the moors near Bradford. I’ve also appeared in ITV’s The Dales and The Lakes, playing at weddings featured in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District.
I’ve performed several times at Hull Kingston Rovers games, including tributes to former players. At Grantley Hall, I’ve brought in the New Year for three years running, as well as playing at several weddings there.
Teaching and playing with Gaelforce
I taught bagpipes at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate for over eight years. I now offer one-to-one tuition online and in person locally, adapting the lessons to what each learner wants to achieve. Some learn for fun, while others want to join a band or work towards playing professionally.
I regularly perform with Gaelforce, Yorkshire’s Celtic rock band. We play at theatres, pubs, festivals and events across the UK, and have also played at Costa Fest in Ibiza.