Iain McLeod was born in Edinburgh in 1931. He was educated at George Heriots School where he had his first piping lesson at the age of 11 under the tutelage of Pipe Major James Sutherland, ex Pipe Major of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. In 1945 he studied for a year under Pipe Major Willie Ross at Edinburgh Castle and in 1961 studied piobaireachd with the legendary Pipe Major Donald MacLeod.

Iain's career with the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, commenced in 1949 when he was invited by its Pipe Major, Duncan Cameron, to join the band as a guest player. In August of that year he was called up for National Service and served with the Royal Scots Greys (now Royal Scots Dragoon Guards), continuing to play the bagpipe with the regimental Pipes and Drums. Two years later, after demobilisation, Iain joined the Edinburgh Police Force - and of course its pipe band! In 1959 he became Pipe Major of the band, at that time all serving police officers.

Right: Pipe Major McLeod playing for German television during Frankfurt Musik Messe.

Under his leadership, they won the World Pipe Band Championship no less than 5 times (1963, '64, '71, '72 and '75): all this whilst carrying out normal police duties and touring Europe, Canada, the USA, Japan, South Africa, even Russia, as piping ambassadors.

In Iain's case this also included pursuing a highly successful career as a solo piper. His prizes include three Silver Stars won at the prestigious Northern Meeting competitions; the John Player Gold Banner and John Player Gold Pennant for former winners at the National Mod piping competition.

Having retired from competition, Iain's love of piping continues in his adjudication of major competitions throughout the world and in his annual broadcast for the BBC on the World Pipe Band Championships.

His piping expertise and achievements, in both the pipe band arena and in solo piping, are well known throughout the piping fraternity. Those new to piping may be interested to read the interview with Iain in the Piper and Drummer magazine (www.piperanddrummer.com).

The standards which Iain set as Pipe Major of the legendary Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band and in his own solo piping career have been mirrored in his directorship of Gillanders & McLeod Ltd. You will, we feel sure, appreciate his determination to ensure that the instruments which bear his name are made to these same high standards.

Before dispatch each practice chanter, pipe chanter or bagpipe is tested and cleared by Iain - personally. Each instrument is reeded, set up and sent out ready to play by the customer. All reeds supplied by the company are likewise tested and approved by Iain. A likely story you might think - given the production line quality of many of today's bagpipes - but that is why Gillanders &McLeod has achieved its reputation as the Rolls Royce of the bagpipe world.

The reputation which Pipe Major McLeod has acquired over half a century of piping is your assurance of the highest quality, value, service and expertise from his company. Hence G&M's unqualified assurance:

"Our reputation is your Guarantee".