Piping hot Gordon!

Oct 24 2008 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

PIPE dreams have come true for a miner’s son from Cumnock.

And Gordon Walker keeps on proving he’s one of the world’s best pipers.

Gordon, 40, last week bagged the solo piping title at the National Mod in Falkirk.

And on Saturday, October 25, he defends the prestigious Glenfiddich title at Blair Atholl.

He’s off to Australia over the festive season to record a new CD and DVD.

And he’ll be in New York in February for the start of another competition season.

Gordon also finds time to play at recitals and write great new pipe tunes.

He’s a competition judge, and works as a school piping instructor.

Busy Gordon is also pipe major of Mauchline and District Caledonia Pipe Band.

Phew! It’s a wonder this man has time to draw breath.

But Gordon’s love of the pipes is his motivation.

He said: “I was inspired by two men I never met – my granny’s two brothers.

“They were pipers in the Scots Guards, and as a wee boy I was captivated by photos of them in their dress uniforms.”

Mum Sheena sent Gordon, aged just four-and-a-half, for chanter lessons with respected tutor David Kay at Netherthird.

And under David’s guidance, Gordon became world junior solo champion at the age of 14.

Gordon joined the army at 16, and further developed his piping under top tutors.

But he recalled: “I always went back to David for advice, and to let him hear what I was doing.

“He’s now deceased, but he was a great friend, and I still keep in touch with his family.”

Gordon was 16 years in the regular army, with the Royal Highland Fusiliers.

And he accepted an invitation to do a further five years in the Territorial Army – tasked with rebuilding the 52nd Lowland Regiment’s pipes and drums.

This he did, before going on to be top instructor at the College of Piping, then later the National Piping Centre, both in Glasgow.

Gordon, who lives in Ayrshire hamlet Moscow, is now piping instructor at St Columba’s School, Kilmacolm.

He’s also guided the Mauchline band to fourth in Grade Two in the British championships at Birmingham.

Gordon’s mum made the Weathered Scot kilts worn by the band, and brother Colin is lead drummer.

Gordon said: “We’d love a main sponsor for next season, being The Homecoming year.”

The band will be competing far and wide, and the sponsor’s name would go on the big bass drum.

Meanwhile, Gordon is one of 10 pipers – rated the world’s best – competing for the Glenfiddich crown on Saturday.

He’s the champ and the one they all have to beat – and he’ll be wearing the Weathered Scots kilt his mum made for him.