NEWS
Pipers Strike a Chord With the King After Being Awarded Special Coronation Medals
Monday 4 December 2023
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King Charles has awarded Gordonstoun’s pipe band special commemorative medals for playing the pipes during the Coronation celebrations in July. Four Gordonstoun pipers were chosen by the King, a former student himself, to pipe him into St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, where he was presented with the Honours of Scotland - the Scottish Crown Jewels. The four have now received the King Charles Coronation Medal to mark their contribution to the King’s celebrations, when they played his favourite tune, ‘Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie’ as well as ‘Scotland the Brave’. |
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In October former students, Elspeth Spencer-Jones and Patrick Blair, accompanied by piping instructor Scott Oliphant, were presented with their medals during an audience with the King at Balmoral, his official royal residence.
Student Hamish Martindale, who was unable to attend Balmoral, recently received his medal from Simon Cane-Hardy, Head of Gordonstoun Senior School, in a special ceremony at the school.
The honour for the school comes after the King awarded the Championship Shield for the best pipe band to students from Gordonstoun Pipe Band during the annual Braemar Gathering in September.
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Elspeth Spencer-Jones, who recently graduated from Gordonstoun and is now at University in Edinburgh, told of her meeting with the king: “We were fortunate to speak for a few moments with the King as he presented us with our medals. He asked us various questions about what we were up to, and he was interested to hear about my first year at University and about the sports I played at Gordonstoun. The King was very grateful to us for having piped for him at the event at St Giles and thanked me and the rest of the Gordonstoun pipers personally.” |
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Gordonstoun Piping Instructor Scott Oliphant added:
“To receive such a special honour makes it all worthwhile - the dedication from our students is a real credit to the school."
Lisa Kerr, Principal of Gordonstoun, said:
“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.”
Over the past 20 years, piping at Gordonstoun has grown from one student to more than 150 piping and drumming with students, aged 12-18 years, from 35 countries including the UK, Germany, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Thailand.
Many of the students were first introduced to the pipes through a programme at Gordonstoun’s Junior School, that ensures every child plays a musical instrument.
To discover more about Gordonstoun’s broader curriculum which caters for every level of talent, confidence, interest and ability, enquire HERE, or join us for a Virtual Taste of Gordonstoun Webinar.
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