Inverness Pipers

Iain's family roots stretch from Ballycastle, County Antrim, N. Ireland to Port Glasgow, Scotland and as far south as Lincolnshire. He learned the pipes at the age of 8 years old with a local pipe band. In 1983 he joined the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and completed several piping courses at the Army School of Piping, Edinburgh Castle. He performed at various ceremonial duties at both Edinburgh and Stirling Castles, as well as royal duties at the Palace of Holyrood. He transferred to the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in 1986 where he spent his remaining career. During this time, notable performances included playing for HM Queen Elizabeth II's 60th birthday celebrations at The Royal Albert Hall and a performance for the then President, Ronald Reagan in front of the White House. A day at the races resulted with a meeting with HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother at Royal Ascot and a solo performance at Crown Prince Pavlos' wedding to Marie-Chantel which resulted in a photo feature in Hello Magazine no less. Added to the aforementioned, several tours of the USA, countless excursions across Europe, countless appearances at the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo and other Tattoos around the world, the odd trip to the Middle East and the Falkand Islands all made for an eventful career. He attended the Army School of Piping at Edinburgh Castle again, where he attained various piping qualifications by completing the army's prestigious Pipe Major's Course. In 1992 the Pipes and Drums were proud to be selected to perform at The Esplanade, Edinburgh Castle, to accompany Mike Oldfield on his newly released album Tubular Bells II. In 1993 Iain played at the Royal Geographical Society in London at a press conference on the occasion of Sir Ranulph Fiennes's return from his latest unaccompanied Antarctica venture. Following retirement from the army, the natural progression at the time was to join the police and as such, Iain passed off the square at Tullieallan Police Training College and joined Tayside Police. He soon became involved in the Police Pipe Band and was quickly instated to the position of Pipe Sergeant. In 2012, Iain became Pipe Major of the Carnoustie and District Pipe Band and it wasn't long before the band climbed onto the prize lists at major championships. He moved to Inverness in 2015 and following a spell at Police HQ Inverness, Iain then retired from policing in 2017. He now plays with the City of Inverness Pipe Band. On retirement from the police, Iain was fortunate to be involved in the Moscow Tattoo held on Red Square with the magnificent backdrop of St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin. He has now created a business in the local area of Inverness offering piping and Gaelic singing as well as providing wedding cakes and poetry.