An inaugural recipient of Pipe Bands Australia’s award for merit and achievement in performance, Rob Roy MacGregor, has passed away.

Rob’s achievement in pipe band performance of pipe bands helped chart the way in several countries the Pacific Rim within Army and community bands.

He began his career in NSW before moving Mount Isa and later Brisbane as pipe major of Brisbane Caledonian and founder of Brisbane Blue Bonnets, later becoming piper major of St Andrew’s. Rob later served as music director for four years of the PNG Correctional Services Pipe Band. He also led Australia pipers and drummers to competition in Jakarta.

St Andrew’s, in advising of Rob’s passing, said he was “without doubt a major force in the Queensland piping scene, was responsible for cultivating many talented pipers and will be remembered as our most charismatic Pipe Major”.