Clan Anderson: An Interview with David Waterton-Anderson, The Piping Scot!

My father’s family have origins in 15th century Aberdeenshire, with later 17th century property acquisitions in Banffshire and Moray (Co. Elgin). My formative years were spent in Glasgow but I was sent to an English Public school near Reading in Berkshire when I was thirteen. My father had married for the second time to a Yorkshire Girl (my mother) and through her I inherited property in Yorkshire when I was ten years old. My initial higher education was at the ‘University of Leeds’ which had me domiciled in the city and consequently the ‘Yorkshire connection’ has been a lasting feature in my life.

As an eager seven year old boy scout, I was always keen to acquire badges and I was told that if I could play the scale and a tune on the practice chanter, I could get a musicians badge. My initial attempts to play ‘Highland Laddie’ were positively miserable and the critique from my father galvanised me to determine that if I was going to do this, I should be sure to do it properly. From then on I practised feverishly to master the task I had undertaken.

The enjoyment in playing the bagpipes is a multi-faceted experience encompassing tone, articulation, emotion and satisfaction. Favourite tunes add to the mix, but often the challenge of learning a new tune and the sense of satisfaction when it is “in the fingers,” draws a real buzz. Often such a tune becomes a favourite for a period but it is difficult to point to any of the thousands of tunes I play that I could say is my favourite. Nevertheless, I have always enjoyed playing traditional 6/8 marches that have a solid metre and swing.

Piping has taken me all around the world. From early trips to France & Germany to play for university Scottish dance teams, European trips have been frequent, including one trip to Moscow. A private performance at Rosenburg Palace in Copenhagen for Queen Marguerita of Denmark, was during a series of Military Tattoos in Scandanavia. I piped for the wedding of the daughter of the Ukrainian Prime Minister (Yulia Tymoshenko) in Kiev. I played at a reception in the ‘Rainbow Room’ at the top of the Rockafella Centre in New York and also for Liberace at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. I am currently Personal Piper and ‘Baron Baillie’ to the Baron of Myrton, official piper to the Grand Bailiwick of

Scotland of the Military & Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus and I had the honour to be personal piper to His Grace The Duke of Hamilton & Brandon (Scotland’s premier Duke) for 14 years prior to the Duke’s death in 2010 - following on from Pipe Major Donald Shaw Ramsay (a giant in the piping world). In 2013, the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs invited me to pipe at the 500th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Flodden at a service in St Giles Cathedral and later at Norham and the battle site. It was the same year I received an invitation to become a civilian guest piper with the 1st Battalion Scots Guards which is a most unusual and rare distinction. Subsequently, I was invited to become a member of the Scots Guards Association (Scotland) Pipe Band with whom I still play. A recent request to pipe for HRH The Princess Royal at a reception in Edinburgh put me in the shoes of another giant of the piping world, the late John D. Burgess, who was official piper to the Royal Celtic Society.

I have been attending Highland Games and Piping competitions for many decades. Solo competition has always made me feel exposed and nervous and I never feel that I have played my best, but, holding the necessary quality, precision and intonation amongst eighteen other pipers is a magical and amazing experience which I avidly embrace. My first experience of a big win, was at the Cowal Championships in 1968 with the City of Leeds Pipe Band where we took first place in our grade. Competing with the Scots Guards entailed much travel throughout both Scotland and England, but sadly with military commitments, continuity suffers.

I first started wearing a kilt in my Scouting days which was MacKenzie tartan, and I bought my very first Anderson kilt at university when I joined the university Scottish Dance Society and I have always taken great pride in the various uniforms that I wear. My Anderson kilt is used for day wear along with my Anderson of Kinneddar kilt, all with civilian style pleating. I have full kilt & plaid in MacLachlan Tartan which can be worn as either day wear or in full highland dress. For evening wear and full military highland dress, I wear Anderson of Ardbrake tartan kilt & plaid. My kilt for use with the Scots Guards is of course a full 7” sett of Royal Stewart tartan, sporting the usual rosettes and kilt star (pin), pleated to the stripe in the military fashion. My own creations/designs remain my favourite tartans of course.

Organisations such as York St Andrew Society; Bradford Caledonians; Leeds Caledonians, have existed for over a hundred years and interest in Scottish traditions has been high for the local Scottish diaspora. Mining, along with other industries has brought many Scots to Yorkshire, amongst whom were some who had skills with piping and drumming. Pipe Bands in Leeds, Bradford, York, Pontefract and the Yorkshire district have been around for many decades. I joined the Leeds band in my university days and later became a member of the Pontefract band, eventually becoming Pipe Major. I also had a few years playing with the Beverley & District Pipe Band prior to joining the Scots Guards band.

There is always a great demand for pipers at certain times of the year. Hogmanay, Burns Night and St Andrews are probably the main three. However, I am fortunate to be able to respond to inqiries for a piper to play at perhaps a wedding or a funeral, which helps me to maintain my instrument and provides practice opportunities whilst ‘on parade’ as it were. I thoroughly enjoy doing Burns Suppers. My father-in-law was the President of the World Wide Burns Federation and we have always been a Burnsian family. I would not consider myself as an ‘oficionado’ of Burns’ works, but all too often certain phrases from his works pop into mind at significant moments and provide apposite thought for the occasion - “Oh wad some power the gift tae gie us” etc.

My piping has lead me in many ways to other aspects of my life. Perhaps not so directly, but my Freedom of the City of Glasgow, my Burgess Ticket and my membership of the “Incorporation of Weavers of Glasgow” are distantly connected. My life membership of ‘The Scottish Tartans Authority’ and the forerunner ‘The Scottish Tartans Society,’ likewise had it’s influence. I feel honoured to be involved with the annual remembrance services which I have always thought important and piping has been a traditional input I have been able to provide in many Scottish spheres, such as my founding of ‘The Anderson Association,’ and our various gatherings adding that traditional and authentic element to proceedings. Plus of course, my involvement in the Clan Anderson.