RODDY MACLEOD MBE
Principal of the Piping Centre, P/M of Scottish Power P/B and one of the elite on the solo piping circuit. It is always a pleasure to listen to Roddy and we are fortunate that this is his 3rd visit to Manchester. His baptism into piping and pipe bands began with the Cumbernauld P/B and his first serious teacher Hugh Wilson. Later he joined the Glasgow Schools P/B and received tuition at the College of Piping, mainly from the great Duncan Johnstone. His other tutors were Seumas MacNeill, Angus MacLellan and Duncan MacFadyen. After a time Roddy was sacked from the School Band but he was keen to join another and across the street from the College was the practice hall for the Red Hackle P/B, one of the top grade 1 bands of that time. Pipe Major Malcolm Mackenzie listened to Roddy play and said, ''That's fine''. He stayed with the Red Hackle for 4 years during which time they changed their name to Clan Campbell. In 1983 he moved to British Airways PB, later to become Scottish Power PB. of which he became P/M in 1995 and remains so to this day. On the solo circuit he is a formidable competitor, having won all of the major prizes, some many times over, i.e. Piobaireachd at the Glenfiddich 5 times. In 1986, at the age of 24, he won the Gold Medal at Inverness and 2nd and 3rd that day were Willie McCallum and Ronnie McShannon, two of his closest friends. We extend a warm ''Welcome back to Manchester'' to Roddy.

WILLIE MCCALLUM
Like Roddy, this is Willie's third visit to Manchester. He and Roddy were members of Scottish Power PB when they did the concert in 1996. Then Willie and Michael Murphy entertained us back in October 1997. Willie, (or 'steady Eddie' as I like to call him), is probably the most consistent prize winner on the solo piping circuit. Like Roddy he has won all the major solo piping contests many times over and he has been Glenfiddich Champion no less than 5 times, and as I'm writing this in October, by the time you read this, it could be 6 times. Willie's piping has been influenced by his close family. Most of them were, and some still are, great pipers in their own right, His grand-father is P M. Ronnie McCallum (Piper to the Duke of Argyll). His uncle is Hugh McCallum, a former Gold Medallist and winner of all the major prizes. Stuart Liddell's mother was a MacCallum before she married. From this great family of pipers has come the most respected piper of our generation, and possibly of all time. Always a gentleman, gracious in defeat as well as in victory, Willie has what every up and coming piper should strive for, a good appearance, beautifully tuned bagpipe, and a selection of tunes that are more than likely flawless. It's good to have you back once again in Manchester.