Members

Rachael Cassie

Rachel started learning the chanter when she was seven years old and quickly developed her talent for playing the Bagpipes. She joined Turriff and District Pipe Band in 1998 and was a regular playing member. She played her first competition with Turriff and District Pipe Band at the European Championships, held in Ayr, Western Scotland, when she was 10 years old and has competed regularly ever since in Pipe Band competitions and in The RSPBA North of Scotland Branch Solo competitions. Always an avid admirer of the Buchan Pipe Band, Rachel transferred to the Band when she moved to Aberdeen to attend University in July 2006.

Scott Connor

Scott’s progress as a Piper is evidence of the success of the established progression route / development plan from learner and then into the Buchan Grade 4 Band and progressing onto the Grade 2 Band. He started at the beginning of 2000 as a learner with the organization and was playing with the Grade 4 Band at Gala’s, street parades and events at the end of 2001. Scott showed potential in competing in the RSPBA North of Scotland branch solo competitions with high success and this continued in his 4 years with the Grade 4 Band. Scott moved up to the Grade 2 Band in March 2005 and as a competent piper has competed at that level since joining the “Big Band”.

Ann-Marie Davidson

Ann Marie picked up a chanter at 8 years old and followed her father and cousin, who still plays for Buchan Pipe Band, into the piping tradition and she was a playing member of the Buchan Grade 4 Band for 6 years before making the leap from there to Grade 2 level piping. Anne Marie has been a consistent playing member of the Grade 2 Band and, like all others who have progressed from the Grade 4 Band; she has assisted in tutoring and coaching those wishing to learn to play the pipes. Ann Marie has also been successful as a solo player in the RSPBA North of Scotland Branch events.

Fiona Fotheringham

Fiona began her piping career with the Stonehaven Pipe Band in 1988. After a year out with Deeside Ladies’ Pipe Band in the Novice Juvenile grade, she joined the newly-formed Stonehaven Grade 4 band, created to develop the young pipers and drummers who were being taught there at the time. After several successful seasons with the Grade 4 band, Fiona joined the ranks of the Stonehaven Pipe Band in Grade One, where she performed at competitions, concerts and also was part of the CD project.

The Grade One band was dissolved in 1995 and from there Fiona moved back to the Grade Four band as Pipe Sergeant. With Pipe Major Julie Brinklow at the helm the band was promoted quickly to Grade 3 – 3B as it changed to with the division of the grades. Fiona stayed with that band until her career as an accountant took the fore and she had a 5 year break from the Pipe Band world.

In September 2004 she joined the Buchan Pipe Band in Grade Two and enjoyed two good seasons with the band with several prizes at major competitions and many more at locals.

In addition to piping, Fiona sings with the folk group ‘Plaid’ at various events in the North East of Scotland.

Andy Gauld

Andy started to learn the pipes, at aged 7 years, with 47th Aberdeen (Culter) Boys Brigade Pipe Band and taught initially by piping stalwarts Jim Campbell, Sandy Robertson and Alex Elrick. He progressed into the newly formed Juvenile Band then was part of the formation of the Culter and District Pipe Band before he stopped playing. After 18 years away from serious piping Andy decided to “get back into it” and joined Buchan Pipe Band where he enjoys the success of competing with the Band.

Aaron Hay

Aaron first begun his piping career aged 11 years old with the Turriff and District Pipe Band under the stewardship of Pipe Major Bill Hepburn Snr, where he rapidly progressed through to the full competing band within a number of years. His piping highlight is coming 2nd at the Cowal Highland Games in 2003 and winning the North of Scotland Champion of Champions the previous week. Aaron played with the Turriff and District Pipe band for 9 years before deciding to move onto pastures new with the Buchan Pipe Band at the beginning of 2006 with hopes of emulating all previous successes in the forthcoming seasons.

Sinclair Lamb

Sinclair Lamb, also known as "Sinky" began his piping career with "The Buchan Pipe Band" in 1974. He was initially tutored by Jim Donaldson who was Pipe Sgt. at the time, and latterly by "Curly Allan" who was also a band player at that time in the Bands history. The "Buchan" is the only band he has been with through all of these 32 years and he is very proud to have assisted in bringing the band from Grade 4 in 1974 through to Grade 1 in 1997, however currently the Band is in RSPBA Grade 2. He held the Pipe Sgt role from Grade 3 to Grade 2 and was awarded Pipe Major for the short time the Band played in RSPBA Grade 1 which was very tough and, as a result, the Buchan Pipe Band requested to be returned to Grade 2. “ Sinky” is now a "Back Row" piper and enjoying it very much but his most memorable moment was in 1996 when the Buchan band won the World Championships along with the other 4 Major Contests of that year to go with the last two Majors from 1995. What a year that was!!!!

Calum Lawrie

Robert Gordon’s College (Aberdeen) Pipe Band was the starting point of the continuing development of the piping ability of Calum Lawrie from the age of 6 years. This school Pipe Band competed in the indoor events of the North of Scotland Branch which helped develop the Band and its members. Calum also competed as a solo piper in the RSPBA North of Scotland branch solo competitions and joined Bucksburn and District N/J Pipe Band in 2003 before moving to Buchan PB in 2006. Calum teaches piping at the Scottish Culture and Traditions.

Steve McDonald

Steve McDonald began his piping career with "The Royal British Legion PipeBand" in 1982 at the young age of 8. He was initially tutored by Sandy Whyte who was Pipe Major at that time. During this time, there were 2 pipebands in the town - The Royal British Legion, and the Buchan Pipe Band. After 8 years with the RBL Band, the band folded due to lack of interest, and the remaining players moved to the Buchan Pipe Band. Steve is the only remaining "Ex Peterhead RBL Member" from that era, and has been with the Buchan band ever since. Steve joined the Buchan Pipe Band at Grade 3 level, playing for the last 16 years with Buchan.

Steve recently moved from his native Boddam (Nr Peterhead) to work and live in Northern Ireland, Steve attends as many competitions as possible, still extremely loyal and passionate about the Buchan Pipe Band, Steve classes himself as one of the original "Long Timers", Some of his proudest moments with the band was the World Championship win in 1996, and taking the band to the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race in Norway.

Heather MacKay

Heather began her piping career began in 1975, aged 8 and taught by the late Sandy Robertson, Jim Campbell, Stuart Reid and George Cowie, all with the 47th Culter Coy, Boys Brigade. As no girls were allowed to play in Boys Brigade bands, Heather was encouraged to join Deeside Ladies in 1976 (led by Pipe Major Lillian Nicolson) and during her time with the Band invitations to play at the famous Stromness Shopping Week in Orkney and music festivals in Spain and Sicily were accepted.
Heather also competed in local solo piping contests, receiving tuition from the late Donald Morrison and Willie Easton, formerly of Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band.
Heather was a Piper with Deeside Ladies Pipe Band when they won all 5 Major Championships and were crowned Grade 3 Champions of Champions in 1986.

Heather then played with Culter & District for 6 years before joining Buchan Pipe Band in 1994 along with her brother Hamish. As well as playing in Grade 2 she was the Pipe Major of the Grade 4 band during 2002 – 2004 seasons and competed with reasonable success taking 6th place in Grade 4a at the 2004 British Championships held in Turriff.
Heather also represents the Buchan Band at Branch level, where she is Assistant / Minute Secretary and is a valuable assistant at The RSPBA North of Scotland Branch competitions and events.

Andrew Meiklejohn

Andrew was given his first Pipe chanter when he was 5 years old and was taught by his mother (piper) before he joined Ballater and District when he was 10 year old. Andrew played with this Band until he moved to Stonehaven where he joined Stonehaven Pipe Band for a short time before joining Buchan in 2005.

Andrew manages to fit his Band practice, Competing and Band events around his studies in Aberdeen.

Peter Morrice

Peter followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather when he started to learn to play the chanter aged 7 yrs and taught by his grandfather. At 9 yrs old Peter played at his first performance with Buchan Pipe Band at a local event and has maintained that progress for over 14 years. He has been successful in North of Scotland Branch Solo competitions all that time and, apart from a very short time with “The Vale, Peter has continuously played with Buchan Pipe Band where he currently serves as Pipe Sergeant.

Robert Morrice

Robert, son of a committed piper father, first joined the Fraserburgh Boys Brigade over 30 years ago and was taught piping by Fraser Murison. Robert then played with the Boys Brigade Band for 4 years before moving to the British Legion Pipe Band in Peterhead for the next 6 years and then he stopped for a time prior to joining Turriff Pipe Band. In 1985 Robert moved to Buchan and has been a consistent playing member since then as well as travelling considerable distances, sometimes twice a week, to attend practice.

Cameron Morrison

Cameron Morrison was taught the chanter at the age of five by his
grandfather, and was playing bagpipes by the age of eight. He started to
play with the Buchan Pipe Band in the Grade 4 Band and stopped after two
years. Following a break of two years Cameron once again took up piping and joined Fraserburgh Pipe Band for one year where he was a piper in that Band in competition before he rejoined Buchan Grade 2 Band. Cameron has also competed in the RSPBA North of Scotland branch solo competitions with notable successes.

Derek Robertson

Derek started his piping career with Stonehaven Pipe Band when aged 8 yrs old under the tutelage of and Brian Elric and Raymond White but also had solo tuition from Donald Morrison which he used successfully until he was 16 yrs old and cut back on solo playing. Derek was a playing member of the Grade 4 Stonehaven Pipe Band which won the World Championships and Champion of Champions and progressed with the band all the way to the successes of the Grade 1 Band. He joined Buchan in 1996 and was part of the Grade 2 “5 Championships in row” era before joining Grampian Police Pipe Band in 2001for 2 seasons and returned to Buchan Pipe Band in 2003.

Neil-John Robertson

Neil-John began his piping career with the 47th Culter BB Pipe Band, a Novice Juvenile band in Aberdeen, taught by PM Jim Campbell between 1995 and 2000.  In 2000 he moved and started playing with the Bucksburn and District Pipe Band, a grade 1 band.  Under the Leadership of PM Neil Selbie, Neil-John followed the band until moving to Buchan Pipe Band in 2005. Neil-John has also been a keen competitor within the solo arena, winning many prizes across the boards. Charity events, weddings and special occasion is also a dominant part of Neil-John piping career.

Stuart Rothnie

Stuart started at the age of 7 to learn the pipes with Portlethen Pipe band however after a short period with them, he followed the Pipe Major to the Craigmoran Pipe Band and shortly after this he moved with his family to Inverurie where he joined the local band. After 18 months with the Band and following a dispersal of the drum corps, it was suggested Stuart should go to the Oldmeldrum R.B.L pipe band where he enjoyed 9 years competing with the band. After the 2004 season Stuart decided that he was ready for a new challange and then joined the Buchan band. He has played 2 seasons with the band is looking forward to winning plenty of prizes in his third.

Kirsten Sharpe

Kirstin was originally introduced to bagpipes when she was 10 years old and then was tutored by a number of competent players with 47th Culter Boys Brigade Pipe Band including Mr Jim Campbell.

Having competed with that Pipe Band in competition, performances and events for a few years she moved up to the Culter and District Pipe Band and was a playing member in the Grade 3 competition arena with them.

Kirsten is also a member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland (NYPBS) and joined Buchan Pipe Band at the end of the 2006 RSPBA competition season.

Scott Stephenson

Although an avid follower of pipe bands from an early age - he remembers as a 14 year old taking the train from Aberdeen to Forfar in 1964 to watch the World Pipe Band Championships - Scott did not pick up the chanter until the relatively late age of 24 whilst studying at Aberdeen University. Here at the O.T.C Pipe Band he was fortunate to come under the influence of excellent piping from the likes of Jack Taylor, Bill Wotherspoon and Alan McDonald, all subsequently Gold Medalists.

After taking up a teaching post at Peterhead Academy and moving from Aberdeen to the "Bloo Toon" in 1983, he joined the Buchan band and together with Robert Skinner worked hard to transform it into a serious competitive outfit, teaching its own youngsters whilst attracting new blood from outwith the town and steadily moving through the grades to the Grade 2 World Championship in 1996 and promotion to Grade 1.

Although now no longer competing as a player,Scott continues to be responsible for "setting up " the band - if we sound bad,you know who to blame - and teaching the youngsters on a Thursday night.

Sam Strachan

Sam was originally taught the pipe chanter when he was 8 year old by Pipe Major Denise Buchan of Fraserburgh Pipe Band, who, in turn was originally taught by members of Buchan Pipe Band when she first started to learn the pipes, and he progressed to playing bagpipes the following year.

When he was 12 years old Sam undertook the RSPBA Structured Learning programme and was successful in the Elementary Certificate. Sam competed with Fraserburgh Pipe Band in RSPBA Grade 4, and some success, in local and Major Competitions for 7 years.

He joined Buchan Pipe Band at the end of the 2006 competition season.

Jack Taylor

Jack started piping in 1961 and concentrated on solo piping, predominately in piobaireachd, where he, along with many great performers of that ilk, competed regularly in Solo competitions and Meetings against the Worlds very best. Jack is a Gold medal winner and along with two other Gold Medallists, Bill Wotherspoon and Alan McDonald, was part of the Aberdeen University O.T.C Pipe Band where they were excellent tutors to members of that unit. Many of those members are now still involved in the Pipe Band world and Scott Stephenson, who started piping at 24 years of age, and is the "setter -up" and piper with Buchan Pipe Band. Testimony to the standard of tutoring in the O.T.C. unit.

Jack wished to fulfil a dream to play with a great Pipe Band and he joined Buchan at the beginning of 2007 and mastered the the fast finger work and harder reeds in Pipe Bands as opposed to solo playing. He still maintains his involvement with his former solo career and is a respected judge and authority in that field.