Gandy Society holding spring “Piping Yard Sale”

One piper’s trash is another piper’s treasure, or so the famed piper Bruce Gandy believes, as he has come up with a novel concept to help raise funds for the Bruce Gandy Bagpiping Development Society, his nonprofit organization committed to helping pipers in need of a boost to help them on their way.

Gandy is putting the call out to pipers to donate various items that they may not want or need – anything from a set of reeds, to unused chanters, to one-off specialty items like a World’s-winning necktie or signed collection of music. Contributions can also be made by donating a percentage of a sale of a large item, such as a set of pipes.

It all goes towards the BGBDS’s mission: “to promote and enhance bagpipe music through educational funding and partnership.”

“I did a little yard sale a couple of years ago just to clear out some stuff out – chanters, a couple of sets of reeds – and it was scooped up in no time,” Gandy said. “I thought if people have all this stuff around, all not worth that much, $25 here for reeds, maybe $75 for a chanter, and I can attract people with some cool collectibles, then we might stand to raise a good amount of funds, and awareness of what we’re trying to do.”

Gandy said that he already has a copy of A Professional Piper In Peace and War, the autobiography by the late John Wilson, signed by his widow, Margaret Wilson; two posters from the 78th Fraser Highlanders’ 1988 concert at Massey Hall in Toronto signed by most members of the band; and the tie that Gandy wore when the 78th Frasers won the World Pipe Band Championship in 1987.

Contributors can send items to the BGBDS office and have them subsequently posted to the winning bidder, or commit the item and handle distribution. Forms are available directly from the organization.

“I hope that some of the good people out there and some of my piping pals will have some special little signed things or collectibles that will go towards a real ‘prize’ for someone and generate some bidding fun,” Gandy added.