Local pipers pay musical tribute to bombing victims
The sweet sound of Amazing Grace filled the Scottish Club of Windsor hall Saturday as two local pipe bands took part in a global tribute to a kindred spirit.
The video cameras rolled as members of the Scottish Society of Windsor Pipe Band joined with Windsor Police Pipe Band members in a moving memorial to 14-year-old Eilidh MacLeod. A piper herself, MacLeod was killed on May 22, 2017, in the terrorist bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, United Kingdom.
To mark the approaching oneyear anniversary of an attack that killed 22 people and injured hundreds more, the Manchester Community Pipe Band put out a global call for bands to do a video recording of Amazing Grace and send it for a memorial Sunday, May 20, at Piccadilly Gardens.
“It’s one of those things, this is something we can contribute,” said Scottish Society piper Brad Way, who helped organize Saturday’s gathering. “There were a lot of young lives lost last year and a lot of us have kids.”
Chris Kell has been drumming in a pipe band for 61 years, including with the Scottish Society since it formed in 1964.
A father of two, grandfather of six and great grandfather of two, Kell was only too happy to take part in the tribute. “Anything of this sort has to tug at a heartstring somewhere,” the 75-year-old said.
Pipe sergeant Jesse Thivierge did double duty as both piper and videographer.
“This is really cool,” said Brian Robertson, a piper with the Windsor Police band. “I had not realized that there was a young piper who had passed away at that bombing, until this.”
A Facebook page for the Manchester community band said members of MacLeod’s family will attend next Sunday’s event. “The awful tragedy of the attack shook Manchester but this is a chance to really show how we all stand together,” the post said. Robertson noted Amazing Grace is one of the most recognizable tunes anywhere.
“While we’re playing it we all realize the impact it has on the audience, especially when it’s a memorial,” he said. “When the pipers play Amazing Grace it really cuts deep.”