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Wren Sterling is celebrating the achievement of one of its Financial Planners, after news that Alistair McNeil, a Financial Planner in our Glasgow team has won a second bagpiping world championship. We’re proud of the contribution that our people make to their communities, so here’s Alistair’s story in his words.
“I started playing bagpipes when I was diagnosed with childhood asthma at age 7. The doctor suggested it might help if I did something that would help my lung capacity.
We had no one in the family who played pipes but that New Year one of my relatives said how good it was at a Hogmanay party where they had their own piper. At that point one of my uncles worked for IBM who had a local pipe band and also offered tuition so we agreed to go and learn together. Back then playing bagpipes wasn’t really a cool thing to do, but over the years it’s really become popular in schools now. It’s a huge part of Scottish heritage, and I’m proud to be a part of preserving that.
As I got better I progressed to a local Boys Brigade Band then the local adult band and by the time I was 18 I was playing in the top grade, grade 1 with the Glasgow Skye Association. I spent 13 years there then had spells with Lomond and Clyde Pipe Band, Greater Glasgow Police Pipe Band then the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band where I won my first world championship back in 2018. When a good friend took over at Glasgow Skye, I went back there in 2022. As well as local people from across the central belt of Scotland we have guys who fly in from Ireland and even one from Canada to play with the band over the summer.
Each year there are 5 major contests around the UK as well as smaller highland games that bands compete at. We had placed well at all the major contests so far this year and we knew if we could replicate the performances that had at practice on the contest field, we would be hard to beat.
The World Pipe Band Championships is the big one and it was held over Friday 15th and Saturday 16th August where over 207 bands from 15 different countries competed. We were in the Grade 2 competition and had to play 2 performances which was judged by 8 different judges. The morning set was a March Strathspey and Reel set. These are very traditional tunes and each band submits 2 sets. When you march up to the line the judge picks a ball out of a bag which has a 1 or a 2 on it so you need to know both sets inside out – no pressure there!
The afternoon performance is a Medley which needs to last between 4-6 minutes. Each band can pick their own tunes but they must include a slow air, jigs, reels and strathspeys. This can be very creative with harmonies and drumming. Our medley had 8 tunes in it so again you need to literally be able to play these backwards and to a very high standard every time you play. There is absolutely no margin for error in this game.
We have been practicing hard all year, up to 3 nights a week sometimes so it’s great that the hard work all paid off. I also have a very understanding and supportive wife, and she enjoys coming along and catching up with the other players’ partners. I’ve made a lot of great friends through pipe bands and the social aspect of it is fantastic. The Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band is a very special band to me. I am the quartermaster for the band so I am responsible for kitting out over 50 players with uniforms.
When they announced that we were first, everyone went crazy! To illustrate the truly global nature of the contest;
2nd place went to City of Dunedin (USA),
3rd Ulster Scots (USA)
4th North Stratton (Canada).
Some people go through their whole piping career and don’t win a contest, let alone a world Championship, so to do it for a second time is amazing. It was also the 2nd anniversary of my dad’s passing, so it was very much for him.
But for now its time to relax and give the lungs a break, then we go again in the winter months preparing for 2026 season!”
Below: The Glasgow Skye Association celebrate their success
