Gordonstoun pupils receive royal recognition from King Charles after Coronation celebrations
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GORDONSTOUN’S pipe band received royal recognition from King Charles for their performance during July’s Coronation celebrations.
The King, a former student at the Moray school, chose four pipers from Gordonstoun to pipe him into St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh where he was presented with the Honours of Scotland.
Last month, former students, Elspeth Spencer-Jones and Patrick Blair, accompanied by piping instructor Scott Oliphant, were presented with their King Charles Coronation medals during an audience with the King at Balmoral.
Student Hamish Martindale, who was unable to attend, recently received his medal in a special ceremony at the school.
Instructor Scott Oliphant said: “The past few months have all been a bit surreal. The big thing that got me when we received the medals was how genuine and interested the King was about our piping band.
“To receive such a special honour makes it all worthwhile and the dedication from our students is a real credit to the school.”
The band’s next big engagement is at the world-renowned Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in April next year.
Lisa Kerr, principal of Gordonstoun, added: “It was an enormous privilege for four of our pipers to be chosen to take part in the King’s Coronation celebrations in the summer.
“To receive the King’s Coronation medal is a well-deserved and worthy reward for all their talent and dedication.
"The school is hugely proud of our pipe band, and I suspect there will now be a few more students keen to take up the pipes or drums after this latest accolade.”
