Honours: ‘Most decorated pipe band drummer in the world’ comes from Bowhill
A man from Bowhill who has been described as “the most decorated pipe band drummer in the world” is picking up another accolade.
Reid Maxwell is receiving an honorary degree from a Canadian university for his work in pipe bands and teaching drumming.
He grew up in Fife and started his drumming career with the Ballingry High School Pipe Band and Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band, before emigrating to Canada in September 1981.
Reid is now lead drummer at Simon Fraser University Pipe Band having captured nine World Pipe Band Championship titles and 10 Drum Corps titles.
He teaches youngsters through the band’s programme and also teaches privately. His oldest student is 81 years old and his youngest is 10.
Asked if he was excited to receive his upcoming honorary degree, Reid replied: “I am, it’s kind of surreal to talk about it. I come from Bowhill, I learned drums in the local pipe band.
“From humble beginnings in Bowhill and now in Vancouver, I’m getting an honorary degree for all the work I have put in.”
Reid had always been interested in playing in a pipe band. He added: “Every place in Scotland has a pipe band. I always, always, loved the whole idea of a pipe band, but I’d never been remotely interested in playing anything but drums in a pipe band.
“I can’t remember a time when I was not interested in that.”
Reid recently visited Scotland again to take part in the European Solo Drumming Championship at Lochgelly High School on Saturday.
This was a World Solo Drumming qualifying event and RSPBA Solo Drumming Champion of Champions event for snare drummers aged 18 and over.
As well as teaching drumming, he has also written an instructional drumming book. Reid is
now getting ready to publish another one in July of this year.
During his recent visit to Scotland, Reid was heading up to
Lochgelly High School to do some teaching there. He added that it is “my way of giving back to where I got my start”.