Sudden death of Ross piping legend
A PIPING legend who died suddenly at his Ross-shire home aged just 47 is being mourned throughout the world.
Alasdair Gillies, the last Pipe Major of the Queen’s Own Highlanders, passed away early on Saturday in Ullapool.
Tributes have been flooding in for Mr Gillies, who for the past 14 years had been Professor of Bagpiping at the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He returned to his home village recently and had been suffering from ill health.
During his piping career, Mr Gillies was widely regarded as the most successful solo light music competitor in history and won almost every major prize in piping, some several times over.
His death was to be marked at this week’s Northern Meeting in Inverness where he won the former winners’ March, Strathspey and Reel contest an unprecedented 11 times.
Mr Gillies also won the Glenfiddich Championships three times, and in 2000 he was voted the as the best piper of the 20th century by Piper and Drummer magazine.
He enjoyed a distinguished army career, serving in Northern Ireland and the Falklands. In 1992 he became Pipe Major of the Queen’s Own Highlanders and was there when the regiment was amalgamated with the Gordon Highlanders in 1994.
He was taught to play by his late father Norman Gillies and his son Norrie (17) is a promising young piper.
His wife Pauline said: "Alasdair was a warm-hearted person with a terrific sense of humour, a kind and wonderful man.
"He was very proud of our son Norrie, especially his piping achievements this summer when he was sweeping the board.
"What was really nice was that Alasdair’s name was also on most of the trophies that Norrie won, having won them when he was a youngster.
"His mother Kathleen was also very proud of Alasdair and his piping accomplishments. Alasdair will be sorely missed by all of the family."
It was at the family’s wish that a reunion of Ullapool and District Pipe Band past and present members in honour of its former Pipe Major Duncan MacLeod went ahead as planned in the village on Saturday night.
Mrs Gillies, who attended the event along with Norrie, said they had gained great comfort and support from the evening, as well as from the numerous cards, calls and expressions of sympathy following Alasdair’s death.
"The only way I can describe it is that it feels like the arms of the village are around us," said Mrs Gillies.
Roddy MacLeod, principal of the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, said he had known Mr Gillies since they were boy pipers, both competing at the Tong Highland Games in Lewis where Mr MacLeod’s family hail from.
Mr MacLeod said: "Without any hesitation I would say Alasdair was the greatest piper I have ever heard playing live. I have so many memories of his outstanding piping.
"His performances at the Northern Meeting were legendary. To win the former winners’ March, Strathspey and Reel (MSR) once is considered a huge achievement in anybody’s terms but Alasdair won it 11 times. I would say he was the greatest MSR player of all times."
Mr MacLeod added: "Alasdair was always so full of life and high spirits. He was great fun to be around and he had a wicked sense of humour. He was also very proud of his son Norrie and took a lot of pleasure in seeing Norrie taking up the pipes and coming to the fore."
He added: "He will greatly missed by so many."
Robert Wallace, principal of the College of Piping in Glasgow, said: "I will remember those magnificent performances at Inverness when he strode the platform in the Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel like no other.
"He was a genuine individual without airs. He knew how good he was but never lost the common touch."
The funeral will take place in Ullapool, provisionally on Saturday at 11am, with arrangements to be confirmed later.
