The end of an era...

[macwilkin]

From the BBC Scotland news pages:

Lament for end of bagpiping firm

The maker of some of the world's finest bagpipes has gone bust and been put into liquidation.
Hardie and Weatherston's pipes won them royal warrants and a leading place in military bands around the world.

Robbie Wallace, the principal of the Scottish Piping College, said the end of the firm was similar to Steinway stopping production of pianos.

The firm was founded in Glasgow in 1950 by piping champions John Weatherston and Bob Hardie.

Scottish tradition

As well as supplying British and foreign armies and European royalty, "Hardie" silver pipes featured on Paul McCartney's 1977 hit Mull of Kintyre with the Campbeltown Pipe Band.

The firm's current owner, who bought the company last year, went to Glasgow Sheriff Court to have the business wound up.

A major order from the Indian Army was not enough to save it.

Liquidator Maureen Leslie said the company had faced cash problems.

She said: "Obviously we explored the possibility of survival of the company. It is a very long established company, very much versed in Scottish tradition.

"But for various reasons we concluded that liquidation was the only option."

Hardie and Weatherston was also well-known as the makers of the seasoning necessary for traditional hide bags.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...nd/4340296.stm

Published: 2005/10/13 20:39:54 GMT

© BBC MMV

[GMan]

Such sad news indeed

[Jimmy Carbomb]

You could see it coming over the last year as they were willing to sell a set of Highland Pipes for $3600 (usd). It was a great deal, but one that left you wondering what was wrong with the pipes... or wrong with the business. The exquisite sound of the pipes only left one conclusion.