Scots aristocracy get married in Highland Dress

[OC Richard]

The pipers (and drummer) didn't get the memo about white hose.

I note one of the pipers is wearing a QOH cap badge.

[Jock Scot]

The pipers (and drummer) didn't get the memo about white hose.

I note one of the pipers is wearing a QOH cap badge.

A brief diversion, if I may?

As you know OCR, I know little of pipe band protocols. On occasion, I have seen a military cap badge being worn by a member of a civilian pipe band and have often wondered if the gentleman(I have not seen a lady member of a pipe band doing so) is either still serving in the Army and is perhaps "helping out", or maybe as a civilian it is accepted practice, if one chooses, to wear their( where they learnt their musical trade and are now retired) Regimental cap badge whilst playing in a civilian pipe band? As you also know and speaking generally, the British can be rather more "stiff-necked" than some nations, over civilians wearing military insignia. Any thoughts?

[creagdhubh]

A brief diversion, if I may?

As you know OCR, I know little of pipe band protocols. On occasion, I have seen a military cap badge being worn by a member of a civilian pipe band and have often wondered if the gentleman(I have not seen a lady member of a pipe band doing so) is either still serving in the Army and is perhaps "helping out", or maybe as a civilian it is accepted practice, if one chooses, to wear their( where they learnt their musical trade and are now retired) Regimental cap badge whilst playing in a civilian pipe band? As you also know and speaking generally, the British can be rather more "stiff-necked" than some nations, over civilians wearing military insignia. Any thoughts?

My good mate and professional piper, Matt Pantaleoni of St. Louis, Missouri, travels to Scotland every summer to compete on the solo-piping circuit. He is also a piping instructor and a former P/M. He is good mates with many renown pipers including Gordon Walker, Jori Chisholm, Jack Lee, Willie MacCallum, etc. He also knew the late Alasdair Gillies, a superb piper and piping instructor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Gillies was also the last P/M of The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforths and Camerons). Whilst in Scotland many years ago, Alasdair had given Matt his old Queen's Own Highlanders silver cap badge. He wore the badge during his tenure as P/M of a Grade II pipe band in St. Louis, as well as other various pipe bands in which he has played with. Matt continues to proudly wear the regimental badge on his Glengarry bonnet to this day, despite being an American piper. Ironically, Matt and the late Alasdair both kind of look a like.

P/M Alasdair Gillies


P/M Matt Pantaleoni