The composing competition marking next year’s 150th Anniversay of the Argyllshire Gathering has been won by ex-Scots Guards Pipe Major Iain Lowther.
Iain receives the competition prize of £1,000 and a certificate marking his achievement. His tune was the unanimous choice from the 62 entries submmitted by the judging panel comprising P/M James Banks MBE, Robert Wallace, President of the Piobaireachd Society and Editor of Piping Press, and John Wilson formerly Strathclyde Police and Convenor of the RSPBA’s Adjudicators Panel, all members of the Argyllshire Gathering Piping Committee.
Originally from Carlisle, Cumbria, Iain has been piping from the age of 12. He served with the 1st Battalion Scots Guards for 26 years, serving under P/Ms Rodgers, MacInnes, Webster, MacKinnon, Donaldson and Selwood, during which time he played for most members of the Royal Family, as well as Presidents and Heads of State of several countries. Iain was appointed Pipe Major of the Regiment in 2006.
Since leaving the army in 2010, Iain has worked with education charity CVQO and volunteered with the Army Cadet Force and Tri Service Cadet Force Pipes and Drums. Speaking to the Piping Press, Iain said "...it’s great news. I’m chuffed to bits. I’m immensely proud to be have chosen as the winner of the competition for such a prestigious event and organisation".
Argyllshire Gathering Senior Steward, Ms Helen Malcolm QC, donated the prize and has decided to call the tune "Dr Whittow’s Salute to the 150th Argyllshire Gathering’", the late Dr Whittow having had a strong connection with the Gathering. Ms Malcolm said she was "so pleased that we have been able to contribute to something positive in the piping world in these strange times. The name chosen for the tune pays tribute both to the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Argyllshire Gathering in 1871, and to a staunch and generous Argyll enthusiast."
A rendition of the winning tune, played by Champion Piper Stuart Liddell, is here:
Download the tune and read more details in the Piping Press article here>
