A Fife bagpiper has described his shock after a song he composed in memory of his brother was played at the Queen’s committal service.
James Banks, a retired Scots Guards Pipe Major, wrote the tune 30 years ago after his older brother, Willie, died in an accident on the River Thames aged 49.
Willie worked at her late majesty’s Windsor residence as a fendersmith – cleaning and repairing metal fenders for fireplaces – for a decade before his untimely death.
James, who watched the state funeral from his Markinch home, says he was touched when his song was played by the Queen’s piper while her coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault beneath St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Monday.
The tune, aptly named A Salute to the Royal Fendersmith, faded gradually into the distance as Montrose-born Pipe Major Paul Burns slowly walked out of the chapel.
James, who held the role of royal household piper at Buckingham Palace for more than 20 years, said: “I didn’t know it was going to happen – it was quite a shock.
“I have performed at many functions for her (the Queen) over a period of time, and it’s the icing on the cake having my tune for her interment.”
It is understood the Queen requested the piece for her service before her death.
James, originally from Cardenden, was first introduced to the Queen in 1967 and has played for her and other heads of state – including the presidents of France and Germany – on numerous occasions.
He was awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to piping.
James recalls Willie, also from Cardenden and who became a fendersmith after 23 years in the Scots Guards, was a popular member of the royal household.
He said: “The Queen liked him, I know that for a fact.
“He saw her every day in his employment and he was very popular with the staff at Windsor.
“He was excellent and he had a great relationship with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.”
But Willie’s life was cut short in 1991 when a light-hearted dare went wrong.
James said: “He was at a party and they had a wee challenge to swim a bit of the Thames… and he was lost.
“It was a very traumatic thing.
“I phoned him the next day and I eventually got through to a policeman on the bank of the Thames who was looking for him.
“I can talk about it now, but it was very difficult”.
The Queen granted special permission for Willie’s funeral to be held at St George’s Chapel – a rarity for commoners which James remembers as a “splendid occasion”.
His song for Willie went on to become one of the Queen’s favourite bagpipe tunes.
James said: “She liked the tune very much.
“It was played in the Edinburgh Tattoo a couple of the times and Trooping the Colour as well.”
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