William Shaw

I started playing at the age of 10 when my father introduced me to the Scale. When I was good enough not to embarrass him, he took me to the Hoover Pipe Band at Cambuslang under Geordie Clark to study the black art of piping. I couldn't have been that bad as I was next sent to Jimmy Russell (Great solo player) at the British Legion in Hamilton to study under him. I then went off to the Army for twenty odd years where I didn't play with any bands but played my pipes at remembrance day parades and at Mess functions. When I came out the Army (Royal Engineers), I went back to the Hoover Pipe Band to take up piping once again. At that time their was a Piobrochaid group on the go and I took the opportunity to get my fingerwork back up to scratch and develop a love and understanding of piobroch. Now that the Hoover band is no more, we practice up at the British Legion on a Monday night. I enjoy playing with this group as the standard is good and keeps me motivated to keep learning the new tunes that Frank writes.