A young piper is busy preparing to swap Buchan for the Big Apple where he will have a starring role in a major celebration of Scottish heritage.
Ten-year-old Josh Bruce from Peterhead will be playing in the New York City Tartan Day Parade on Saturday April, 6.
The Dales Park Primary School pupil has been a keen supporter of the Fallen Firefighter Foundation – to such an extent that the US city has said it is “honoured” to have the youngster visit.
And dedication of another kind has been needed to take up the offer to join the Fire Department New York Emerald Society Pipe Band, with Josh raising the money needed to make it to the US by busking on the streets of his home town and Aberdeen city centre.
His performances of traditional ballads – and some of his favourite songs like Wake Me Up by Swedish DJ Avicii – over the last six months have been enough for him to pay for his transatlantic flights.
Josh plays a set of Red Hot Chilli Piper Wallace Pipes – only 343 of which were made, with each representing one of the firefighters killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Josh, who will play along Sixth Avenue with almost 3,000 pipers, drummers and Highland dancers, said it is “a dream come true”.
He said: “I’m so excited to be taking part in the parade and to be doing so as part of the Fire Department New York Emerald Society Pipe Band is a dream come true.
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“I’ve worked so hard to raise the money to go but when you love piping as much as I do, it doesn’t feel like work.
“I’ve never been to New York and I can’t wait to experience the Big Apple.”
Kyle Dawson, President of the New York Tartan Day Committee, said Josh’s story was “inspirational.”
He said: “For a 10-year-old to have so much drive and determination is wonderful and for him to be so involved in the Fallen Firefighter Foundation is truly incredible.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming him to the city and honoured to have him take part in the New York City Tartan Day Parade.”
The New York City Tartan Day Parade is the highlight of the annual Tartan Week celebrations.
Up to 30,000 spectators line the streets to watch performers march through the city.
The parade will be led by Sir Billy Connolly, who is this year’s grand marshal.
The coveted position has previously been filled by legends including Sean Connery, Alan Cumming, Kevin McKidd, Sam Heughan and Brian Cox.
In 2018, award-winning Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall made history when she became the first female to ever lead the parade.
The parade was inaugurated in 1998, when the US senate declared April 6 to be National Tartan Day to recognise the contributions made by Scottish-Americans to the United States.
It was held for the first time the following year, with two pipe bands and a small group of Scottish-Americans marching from the British Consulate to the UN.
It has grown hugely since then.