Richard Parkes awarded MBE

Richard Parkes, Pipe-Major of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band of Northern Ireland, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s annual Birthday Honours.

Parkes was given the title for “services to pipe band music in Northern Ireland.”

As leader of Field Marshal Montgomery, Parkes has taken the band to three World Championship titles. The band was the RSPBA’s Champion of Champions in 2003, and won the Scottish Pipe Band Championship in May of this year.

Richard Parkes is currently recovering from a stroke suffered in March, but has been working with and tuning his band at competitions. The band is being led in the interim by Alistair Dunn.

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