TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the world's greatest bagpipers who has died following a long illness.
Officials from the world of Scottish music offered their condolences after Glasgow-born Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies passed away on Friday.
The 47-year-old, who was the last pipe major of the Queen’s Own Highlanders, won numerous awards for his solo piping performances, including two gold medals from the Highland Society of London.
His wife Pauline also paid tribute to him, saying that her husband was a “really good man”.
Mrs Gillies said: “Alasdair was such a warm, funny guy, I can’t even begin to put it into words. He was just a really good man.
“We were all very proud of his achievements in the piping world and I know he was very proud of his son Norrie. It’s a big loss to the family but we take some comfort in the fact that he is at peace now.”
Mrs Gillies added that a post-mortem examination was being carried out and the funeral would take place in Ullapool as soon as it had been concluded.
Roddie MacLeod, principal of the National Piping Centre, also recognised the piper’s achievements and claimed many of them would never be surpassed.
He said: “Alasdair’s death is a big loss to the piping community. He was very highly regarded and was very prolific in prize-winning.
“He won the Northern Meeting competition in Inverness 11 times, which is just unparalleled and will likely never be beaten. He was just such a fantastic musician and most definitely one of the best pipers Scotland has ever seen.”
Mr MacLeod added: “He was a high-spirited guy and was really full of life. He just loved being around the world of piping and Scottish music. He will be sadly missed.”
Mr Gillies was born in Glasgow and brought up in Ullapool where he was taught to play the bagpipes by his father.
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