History of the D&P GHA
When the Gordon Highlanders was amalgamated with the Queen’s Own Highlanders in 1994 to form The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons), the Regimental Association found itself without access to a piper or pipers for regimental occasions. For the first two years of this situation, Lt Col Strachan asked Bill Blacklaw to play at the various Regimental functions. For the dinner dance in 1996, however, Bill , while agreeing to cover the piping requirements, enlisted another five pipers who had served in the Regiment or in the TA. The secret was preserved until the dinner dance, when instead of just Bill, six pipers marched into the room and played for the assembled company.
This had a snowball effect. Some drummers volunteered their services, one or two other pipers joined us and, by the time the refurbished Gordon Highlanders Regimental Museum was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, we were able to field a band of about 18 members.
Bill continued to act as Pipe President/Secretary/Band Manager and the position of Pipe Major was slightly fluid. In the earlier engagements PM Bill Hepburn Snr from Turriff took this on. When ill health restricted his appearances PM Gordon Morrison succeeded him until his health too began to fail and he had to give up. For some time then Bill Blacklaw tried to combine the post with his other duties and the band progress slowed down. We took off again in 2006 when Robert Aitken accepted the post of Pipe Major and the band continues to go from strength to strength under his leadership.
