Canadian pipers return to pay tribute to former colleague

The Can-Am Pipes and Drums returned to Dunfermline to pay tribute to an old colleague from Visit Dunfermline.

Jo Freeman died in 2014, but 60 Canadian pipers and drummers descended on the town to perform at Dunfermline Abbey and The Glen Gates, including a special piece composed and dedicated to Jo.

Thomas Moffat, from Visit Dunfermline, said the tourism organisation had been touched by the pipers’ amazing gesture in memory of a much-loved friend and colleague.

He commented: “We have been supporting a visit from our Canadian friends since 2012 and this, their fourth visit, was made even more special by the fact that the band dedicated a fantastic piece to our much missed colleague Jo.

“It was great to see so many people attend as we did not have as large a promotional campaign as previous years, it just goes to show their popularity amongst locals.

“Fortunately we have a new sponsor in Loch Leven Brewery who are helping us put together a fantastic three-day programme for 2020, based around the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, which plans to be an exciting and fun event for the town, aimed at bringing over 100 pipers into Scotland’s ancient capital.”

Jo, who was just 54 when she passed, died after a brave battle with ovarian cancer four years ago.

A director at Visit Dunfermline, she was also well-known and loved in photography circles and started the Dunfermline Photos Facebook page, which amassed thousands of followers on social media.

The Can-Am Pipes and Drums near the abbey.