Strathallan pipers off to Barbados

A group of students at a Perthshire school are travelling to the Caribbean for a worldwide bagpipe event.

The Barbados Celtic Festival will host pupils from Strathallan as part of a massed Perthshire pipe band.

Students Xander Gibson, Oliver Spalding, Conor Campbell and Gregor Sands, will perform at different schools on the island, as well as conducting piping workshops.

The festival runs from Thursday to Sunday and celebrates the Celtic links between Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Nova Scotia and Gallic regions in Europe and Barbados.

Strahallan Pipe Major Craig Muirhead will take the boys out to the island.

He said: “Piping abroad at a festival like this is an experience the boys will never forget.”

“They’ll get to immerse themselves in the culture and come back more experienced.

“I want them to see that with piping you can go anywhere in the world and people will get excited about seeing you perform.

“They will enjoy piping in the massed band, but having the opportunity to perform in schools is also fantastic.”

With soaring heat expected Mr Muirhead confirmed the musicians will not be donning full kit.

He added: “I think their full uniform would go down well in Barbados, but we’ve decided on kilts and polo shirts.”