Updated: Shedden appointed Torphichen & Bathgate Pipe-Major

After a search that lasted less than a month, Stuart Shedden of Glasgow has been appointed Pipe-Major of the Grade 1 Torphichen & Bathgate Pipe Band of Whitburn, Scotland.

 

Shedden had been rumoured to be the likely successor to Gordon Stafford, who resigned from the band on August 18th, after learning of an alleged plan within the band to oust him.

 

“Following a successful interview, the band are pleased to announce that Stuart Shedden has been appointed as Pipe-Major of Torphichen & Bathgate Pipe Band,” band Chairman Fergus Philip said in a statement.

 

Shedden commented to pipes|drums that he found the band’s committee to be “a very well organized and focused group of players. I’m pleased to be on board and part of it. The immediate goal for 2010 is to qualify for the World’s Final.”

 

Shedden is well known in both solo piping and pipe band circles. Among many awards, highlights include the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal for piobaireachd at the Northern Meeting in 1998 and the Dunvegan Medal at Skye in 2003.

 

In pipe bands he was most recently Pipe-Major of Lanark & District, taking the band to Grade 3A before leaving in 2008. Shedden also played for many years with the Grade 1 Toyota Pipe Band, and served as Pipe-Sergeant under the late Pipe-Major Hugh MacInnes.