Former managing director of Radio Forth in Edinburgh, ex-journalist and author, and current proprietor of a Hebridean brewery. A Trustee of the East Lothian Pipes and Drums Trust since 2009. Convener of the organising committee of the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships.
Edinburgh fund manager. Established East Lothian Pipes and Drums Trust in 2007 reconstituted as the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust in 2015. He is also chairman of the Tam O’Shanter Trust (TOST), a family charity. A father of two pipers but not a piper or drummer himself.
Works as an advisor to investment firms nationally. He lives in East Lothian, having returned to Scotland with his family after 15 years working in the City of London.
Is an accomplished piper in both pipe bands and solos. He has played with the Grade 1 Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band and with the Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band of New Zealand and has won an array of top solo prizes in both Piobaireachd and Light Music. These include prizes in: the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal contests and A grade Light Music at the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting; the Gillies Cup, Strachan Memorial and RG Lawrie Ram’s Head Snuff Mull at the Scottish Piping Society of London; a large number of prizes and victories around the Highland Games; and both the Dunvegan Medal and Col. Jock Clasp at Skye. In recent years has been increasingly found behind a judge’s table, primarily at schools’ competitions.
An independent business consultant working with the Country’s major financial institutions. Vice Chairman of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, and President of the Lothian and Borders RSPBA Branch. He began playing the pipes aged 12 so has been playing for over 50 years and competed for over 30.
We are deeply saddened at John’s unexpected death in January 2024. John has been a good and steadfast friend to SSPDT. To his last days, he was active in his voluntary work for the RSPBA as well as for SSPDT and other organisations, giving of his time and expertise, and always a gentleman. He will be missed by us, and by many, and we are thankful for everything that he has done with us to help this, and the next generation of pipe band musicians and tutors.
Joined the British Army in 2008 after graduating from Edinburgh University. Served at home and abroad and most recently commanded the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in Catterick, North Yorkshire where he was responsible for the recruiting, training and professional development of the band. An enthusiastic and self-confessed amateur piper.
Qualified Chartered Accountant and works as a Financial Services consultant in a leading accountancy firm in London. She has a keen interest in working to support the Financial Services sector to integrate ESG factors into their reporting, operations and strategy. She also promotes skill-based volunteering within her company, through the development of a programme to provide support to social enterprises and charities across the UK. Over the last few years, she has had some experience working at a charity whose mission is to give young people a great start to their working lives. She is looking forward to continuing to support young people through SSPDT’s work, especially as a piper herself.
Simon is a Professor of Media and Music and Head of Media and Journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University. He has a long-standing interest in all aspects of the traditional music of Scotland, and particularly the landscape of access and education to music. He has competed as a solo piper and performed internationally as a folk musician, and plays both Uilleann and Scottish pipes. He has recorded 12 commercial albums, has won the A-grade MSR at the Northern Meeting (2006) and the Skye Clasp three times for Piobaireachd (2005, 2006, 2007) as well as numerous other prizes at major international piping competitions.
