Many years ago, a young boy was helping out in the famous Lawrie’s shop when a Canadian gentleman walked in carrying a 1906 set of Lawrie bagpipes. He asked at the counter if the shop would buy back his relative’s pipes.
Unsure, the boy went through to the back shop to ask. The answer came back: Lawrie’s did not buy back their pipes.
But the boy’s father had seen both the pipes and the look on his son’s face. Recognising just how much they meant to him, he quietly agreed to pay for the pipes himself, allowing his son to pay him back over time.
That boy grew up to become Pipe Major David Kettlewell Snr, who would go on to lead the Johnstone Pipe Band, the Fire Service Pipe Band and play with many others. More importantly, David Snr devoted his life to teaching – introducing hundreds of youngsters to the pipes and instilling in them a lifelong love of pipe music.
David Kettlewell Snr sadly passed away in 2024. In his memory, his son David Kettlewell Jnr, together with other family members and David Snr’s long-time friend Stuart Rose, have created a wonderful legacy to support junior piping.
Funded by the Kettlewell family and Stuart Rose, The Kettlewell Legacy will provide the winner’s medal for the Junior (U14) Solo Piping Competition at The Glasgow Highland Club Schools Piping and Drumming Competition. The prize will also include a lesson with renowned piper Roddy MacLeod. As if that were not enough, McCallum Bagpipes will present the winner with a brand-new set of pipes.
The accompanying photograph shows Kenny MacLeod of McCallum Bagpipes with the prize pipes, David Kettlewell, and Stuart Rose, along with Colin Kerr of The Glasgow Highland Club, receiving the Kettlewell Legacy Medal on behalf of the competition.
Through this legacy, the passion and generosity of David Kettlewell Snr will continue to echo in the playing of young pipers for many years to come.
Which one of these pipers will win the Kettlewell Medal next year?
