Respect for the Piper in Glasgow University

[Jimmy]

Earlier this week I attended a Graduation ceremony at Glasgow University, my niece was graduating in medicine.
The ceremony was quite magnificent as befits an ancient and historical university such as Glasgow.
At the end of the ceremony there is a procession led by a piper from Bute Hall, where the ceremony took place, to the open quadrangle beside the cloisters. The piper leads the way with the Chancellor and all the Heads of Faculties and dignataries following him, at the finish of the procession the piper is presented with a quaich with a wee dram by the clerk of the university, then the remainding members of the procession receive their libation.

I thought this was really nice and showed the respect that was due to the piper.

All in all we had a great day

[Riverkilt]

I was in the cap and gown business for many years back in the 70s. I've seen hundreds of graduations. The faculty procession is always beautiful with all the various regalia denoting their individual universities and degrees...but never a piper. Would loved to have seen it.

Ron

[macwilkin]

Earlier this week I attended a Graduation ceremony at Glasgow University, my niece was graduating in medicine.
The ceremony was quite magnificent as befits an ancient and historical university such as Glasgow.
At the end of the ceremony there is a procession led by a piper from Bute Hall, where the ceremony took place, to the open quadrangle beside the cloisters. The piper leads the way with the Chancellor and all the Heads of Faculties and dignataries following him, at the finish of the procession the piper is presented with a quaich with a wee dram by the clerk of the university, then the remainding members of the procession receive their libation.

I thought this was really nice and showed the respect that was due to the piper.

All in all we had a great day

That sounds very similar to the custom of "paying the piper" at a Burns Supper on in the Mess.

Regards,

Todd

[The Frumious B.]

Riverkilt,
What have you NOT done?

[beloitpiper]

The same respect isn't always shown when I pipe for such ceremonies. People are usually courteous, but sometimes I'm looked at like a nusance.

[kiltedsawyer]

I was in the cap and gown business for many years back in the 70s. I've seen hundreds of graduations. The faculty procession is always beautiful with all the various regalia denoting their individual universities and degrees...but never a piper. Would loved to have seen it.

Ron

Emory University in Atlanta has three pipers lead the procession at their graduation ceremonies in May. I think they are always well received and have heard comments from graduates that they were very impressed by it. I don't know what if any historical significance there is, Emory is a Methodist based or related university. Still, nice to see and hear.

David

[cessna152towser]

Glasgow University is very proud of its traditions. I graduated from Glasgow University in 1973 and currently have a University of Glasgow kilt on order.

[Andrewson]

Glasgow University is very proud of its traditions. I graduated from Glasgow University in 1973 and currently have a University of Glasgow kilt on order.

I can't remember if we were piped out of the Bute Hall when I graduated from Glasgow University in 1959 but I am sure that if we were, then he was properly paid for his efforts as described above.

And I have been wearing a Glasgow University kilt for the last few years and always to great acclaim (it is my wife's favourite among all my kilts) so I'm sure you'll get great pleasure as well as pride out of wearing it CT.

[Jimmy]

I can't remember if we were piped out of the Bute Hall when I graduated from Glasgow University in 1959 but I am sure that if we were, then he was properly paid for his efforts as described above.

And I have been wearing a Glasgow University kilt for the last few years and always to great acclaim (it is my wife's favourite among all my kilts) so I'm sure you'll get great pleasure as well as pride out of wearing it CT.

Most people in my party had not seen the procession out into the quadrangle led by the piper as they were still in Bute Hall like most of the graduates.
I happened to be out in the quadrangle and cloisters because my young nephew who was siiting beside was getting too warm and I took him outside for fresh air.
By the time the procession had ended and the piper stopped playing most graduates were still in Bute Hall, so I would say that a fair majority of graduates and guests would not have witnessed this final part of the ceremony

[Jimmy]

Glasgow University is very proud of its traditions. I graduated from Glasgow University in 1973 and currently have a University of Glasgow kilt on order.

As you probably know most male graduates wear their kilt for the graduation ceremony. There was a great variety of tartans on show but would Glasgow University not promote their own tartan to the graduants as a matter of promoting their tartan.
Unfortunately I did not know that Glasgow University has their own tartan so therefore I would not recognise it. I apologise for my ignorance here.

On that note about tartans I noticed in the Scottish media that there is a move on for an official register of Tartans within the European Union so that Scotland can be recognised as the originators and official producers of tartan.
Much like other countries and areas have done with their produce such as Parma ham, Italy, and champagne from that area of France.(I am not attempting to put our much cherished tartan in the same league as ham or sparkling wine but stating a move towards more recognition of the kilt in particular)