This is my somewhat personal and professional history.

I was born in London England in 1953.  In 1956, my parents moved to Ontario, Canada.  I joined my first pipe band at the age of 12, and played my first contest at the age of 13.  When I reached the ripe old age of sixteen, I joined the local Canadian Militia pipe band. (I was now living in Manitoba.) Here, I successfully completed and received the rank of Drum Major First Class from the Canadian Reserves.

Over the years, I have studied under some of the great players and teachers in the pipe band idiom.  They include Hugh Cameron, Burt Barr, Jim Kilpatrick, Drew Duthart, and the late, great Alex Duthart.  I played and assumed lead stick duties for a number of  bands throughout the years, including the Grade II, Newmarket band from Ontario and the Grade II, St. Andrew's Society band from London, Ontario.  I, also, played under Drew Duthart in the Metro Toronto Police Pipe Band.  During this time, these bands captured a total of three North American Pipe Band Championships, along with three Ontario Champion Supreme awards. My solo career took me to the open level, and, although now retired, I get great pleasure in coaching other up and coming players in their solo careers.

For ten years, I was the lead stick for the North Coast Pipe Band from Cleveland, Ohio.  While lead stick, the band managed to capture a North American and, in 1998, the Grade III Ontario, Championship.  In 1997, the North Coast Pipe Band place fourth at the World Championships in Scotland.  The drum corps placed fourth, also. In 1999, the band was upgraded to Grade II and placed fifth at the North American Championships in 2000.  

Currently, I'm living in Pittsburgh, PA with my wife, Karen, and my son, Colin.  I am not only an avid student and teacher of pipe band drumming, but I make my living by it.  I am building the hand-made Claymore tenor and bass drums  and enjoy teaching and doing workshops.  

www.claymoredrums.com.