Special tune to honour former Director of Army Bagpipe Music played at his funeral in Inverness
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A former Army piping chief has been laid to rest in Inverness to the sounds of a tune specially composed in his honour.
Major John MacKenzie Allan MBE, who has died aged 88, served with the Queen’s Own Highlanders and was also a former director of Army Bagpipe Music based at Edinburgh Castle, mentoring hundreds of Army pipers.
As he was laid to rest at Kilvean Cemtery, a lone piper played a tune in the major’s name which had been presented to him just the week before he died.
Death of former director of Army Bagpipe Music
Salute to Major John M Allan MBE (1st Battalion The Queen’s Own Highlanders) was composed as a thank you for everything he did for pipers attending the various courses run at the Army School of Bagpipe Music during his tenure.
The new piobaireachd, was composed by Niall Matheson, a double gold medallist and a highly accomplished piper and composer.
Mr Matheson was among a group of seven former pipers from the Queen’s Own Highlanders who recently visited Major Allan at Castlehill Care Home in Cradlehall.
Within a month, Mr Matheson found himself playing his composition at Major Allan’s final resting place.
Other pipers who took part in the funeral included Norrie Gilles, son of renowned piper Alasdair Gillies, who played in front of the hearse at it arrived at Kilvean Cemetery.
Earlier, Donald John Macintyre played at the end of the service at the funeral home of John Fraser & Son in Inverness.
Major Allan, of Croy, died the day before he and his wife, Jean, would have celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.
He also leaves two sons, John and Gary, four grandchildren, Robert, Paul, Mark and Laura, and two great grandchildren.
Throughout his piping career, he was involved in 24 Edinburgh Military Tattoos as performer, pipe major or director of the pipes and drums.
He was awarded the MBE by the Queen in 1989.
In 1990 he was responsible for directing the Beating Retreat by The Massed Bands of the Scottish Division on Horse Guards Parade in front of the Queen - his final parade before retiring later that year.
Between 1990 and 2005, he was piping teacher at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh.
