TWO MORAY ARMY cadet force members have returned from a very special outing in London where they collected national awards for their Piping skills.
Ryan Anderson, 18, and adult Pipe Major Kirsty Campbell, 35, were in the capital to receive awards in the Piping category of the BAE Recognising Excellence Awards, both having been nominated by their Army Cadet Force detachment commanders.
Pipe Major Anderson, who attends Moray Company’s Elgin Detachment, has been the Pipe Major for the our Pipes & Drums since 2014. He is also the Senior Pipe Major for the Army Cadet Force (ACF) Massed Pipes and Drums having been appointed to that position in May this year. Ryan is a proactive senior cadet instructor, creating video tutorials for novice and intermediate pipers.
He was the first cadet in our Battalion to achieve the 4-Star Army Proficiency Certificate in both Military and Piping qualifications, demonstrating to the ACF Piping and Drumming community that this is achievable and that one can be highly skilled in both disciplines. Ryan, who is part of Moray’s Pipes & Drums Detachment, has influenced the evolution of our Pipe Band from a disparate group of cadets into the ACF Pipe Band of the Year.
Kirsty meanwhile is an integral member of the ACF Piping team and has been in command of the Level 6 piping class at the annual concentrations for the past few years.
She also ensures that our band maintains a high level of local presence with regular public displays, one of the band’s major highlights this year was playing a key role in the Highland Military Tattoo at Fort George.
After receiving her award Pipe Major Campbell said “I am overwhelmed to have been chosen for this award for something I love doing. I believe in the ACF movement to my core.
“I am grateful to be able play my part in ACF Piping & Drumming which affords our young people such fantastic opportunities and to work with such an amazing and talented team of CFAVs and cadets.”
Ryan’s guest at the awards in London was his proud mother, Aileen Anderson, who said “I am extremely proud that Ryan was chosen out of all the nominees to receive this award.
“I was honoured to be asked to accompany him to London to experience the awards ceremony and dinner with him.”