Iain MacFadyen has dedicated over 70 years to piping – from competing and playing internationally to inspiring and teaching young Scots to pick up the pipes.
The 86-year-old will receive a BEM for his services to piping, sharing his love for traditional music with people far and wide.
The professional piper has been teaching for around 50 years, travelling as far as Canada and America to share his skills, and has even played for a Burns Supper in Russia.
He moved to Kyle of Lochalsh in 1973 and has been teaching in the Highland region ever since.
He was “absolutely delighted and genuinely surprised” to receive the letter informing him he was included in the Queen’s Honours.
“You never expect these things,” he explained, “and when you do get them it’s just a surprise.”
Competition success unmatched
Mr MacFadyen comes from a piping family and has been practicing since he was around 12 years old.
By the age of 16, he was competing professionally and winning all the major solo awards.
His competition record of success is unmatched, and before retiring in 1985 he had won everything of note.
When he’s not teaching at the National School of Excellence, in Plockton, he’s travelling the country judging all the major competitions and Highland Games.
Now both his son, Iain, and his daughter, Karen, play the pipes and his grandson has also picked up the instrument.
“I think the accolade I’m away to get now has been the highlight of my life,” he admitted.
“Just being able to teach and winning all the major competitions has given me a lot of satisfaction, and I’ve taught a lot of pupils who are now winning prizes throughout Scotland so that gives me a lot of pleasure.”
Meanwhile, Agnes Hamilton Cleghorn-Redhead will also receive a BEM for voluntary services to music and to the communities of Skye and Harris.
