Major Gavin Stoddart MBE

Born into one of Edinburgh's best-loved piping families, Gavin Stoddart had early tuitionfrom his father George, and from Captain John MacLellan at Edinburgh Castle. His fathers shop on the Lawn market was a focal point for pipers far and wide, and from his youth Gavin was immersed in a vibrant piping culture which led him first to to the Edinburgh City Police pipe band (in which he was a guest player) and later to the Scots Guards. In the Guards he served under pipe majors K G Roe and Angus MacDonald , before transferring in 1979 to the Royal Highland Fusliers in which he was appointed pipe major.

Due to army commitments his competitive career was short but fruitful, and in addition to the the Gold Medals at Oban and Inverness (in 1981 & 1983), Gavin has twice won the prestigious Glenfiddich Championship at Blair Castle.

Gavin retired from competing in 1989 and in 1990 was commissioned and appointed Director of Army Bagpipe Music. In September 1997 he was promoted Major and in 1999 all piping and drumming schools within the Army merged to form the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming under his command.

He was Invested as a member of the British Empire in the 1999 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for services to Army Piping and Drumming.

Gavin retired from the Army in July 2003 after 37 years service and joined The National Piping Centre. He is a Senior Solo Adjudicator and is in great demand world-wide both as a judge and as an instructor.

He appears on Vol III of the 1997 Piping Centre Recital Series (COMD2077), available on Temple Records