Steven Sims, 1988-2012

It is with great sadness that the Fife Constabulary Pipe Band announces the passing of one of their young snare drummers, Steven (Stevie) Sims, at the far too early age of 23, late on May 26, 2012, after a short, but ultimately fatal illness. Steven Sims was an intelligent, funny, highly motivated young gentleman, who was devoted and much loved by all of his family and friends.

He began learning to play the snare drum when he was only eight years old  at Stewarts Melville College in Edinburgh, first under the guidance of Mick O’Neill. From the age of 11, he was taught  and mentored by  Scott Walsh. His hard work and obvious natural ability helped him to progress quickly, and when he left Stewarts Melville in August 2006,  he joined his two tutors (Scott and Mick)  at the Grade 1 Clan Gregor Society.

Steven moved to Fife Constabulary along with Mick in 2008, and  helped the band and drum corps  to progress over the next four years. His sharp and very distinctive sense of humour made him a very popular guy, and  we never had to wait too long to see his fantastic smile, or hear one of his wise cracking one-liners.

After his schooling at Stewarts Melville, Steven studied at St. Andrew’s University, gaining a BSc Honours degree in psychology. He was an excellent  rugby player, both at school and at university level, playing for  both first teams and captaining the university team. After finishing at St. Andrew’s, he continued with his rugby, playing for the Stewarts Melville Former Pupils team. He was always able to balance his rugby and pipe band commitments, and always performed to the very highest level. In fact, only eight short days ago, he was performing to his best yet again, at the Scottish Championships at Dumbarton, helping the Fife Police  drum corps to seventh place in Grade 1.
 
The Fife Constabulary Pipe Band would like to extend their sincere condolences to all of Steven’s family. We, like them, will miss him terribly.

– Contributed by Mick O’Neill