What got me into the pipe's?

Well, I have always had a flair for music and I can carry a tune on most instruments with the exception of an accordion.  For the life of me I can not get more than two notes out of a squeeze box.

When I learnt the guitar I bought the ‘Bert Weedons Play in a day’ book.  I practiced and practiced, and then practiced some more,  until one day when it all came together.  The feeling of euphoria at playing a tune along with all the fiddly bits and hearing it sound like what I was meant to be playing was pure bliss. 

I started writing songs and had a couple recorded by people who were very popular in their day.  Then along came a family and music was relegated to the back burner.  

Many years ago when I was in Oldham  I went along to a practice session of the Oldham Scottish Pipe band.  They practiced on their chanters for an hour then at 2100hrs they got out their Pipe’s and Drums and fired them up.  They sounded very good.  But then came that magical moment when the heavens appeared to open and a bright light illuminated them, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and my life took on a new meaning, they played Highland Cathedral.  I was transfixed, I could not move.  Every long forgotten thought and dream that I had ever had seemed to be synchronized into this one perfect moment.  I knew that I had to play that, here was an instrument that evoked so much passion and stirred my soul like no other had ever done.
Sure I love the blues’, folk, country, rock.......you name it, but the pipe’s....Highland Cathedral.....nothing had ever made me feel like this.  
Surely this was how Jonathan Livingston Seagull had felt when he met the great Gull Chang.  

I have always had an affinity to Scotland, I have spent many weeks hiking the Highlands and Lowlands.  I have had hypothermia at the summit of The Ben and I have felt the history of Glen Coe.  Been up the east coast across the top and down the west, many times.   Done the West Highland way, camped out on the banks of Loch Lomond. 
But sitting there that evening in one of the meeting rooms at the Oldham football ground and listening to Highland Cathedral Was something out of this world.

So here I am now,  I invested in a set of McCallum Bagpipes. From their Clasp Collection I selected the AB4 Deluxe with Blackwood Mounts and  engraving. I figured that I am only ever going to buy one set of pipes so why not buy the best. You can check them out on page 6 at 

I regularly turn out with the world famous Oldham Scottish Pipe & Drum band.
I have played at many venues, weddings, funerals, birthday parties, one of which was for actor Bill Tarney (Jack Duckworth in Coronation Street).

My Tartan, cap badge and coat of arms.

I love it!

All information, articles and images contained within this site Copyright 2000-2011 All rights reserved.
Webmaster Trevor Russell.