A Dundee musician who loves all things Scottish has been awarded a fellowship to start up the city’s first inclusive pipe band.
Ross Inglis, 27, was awarded a lifetime fellowship by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce (RSA) to set up an all-inclusive pipe and drum band for people with and without learning disabilities.
The fellowship is part of a new initiative that was set up by the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability (SCLD), an organisation that hopes to make Scotland a place where people with learning disabilities are “included and respected as equal citizens”.
Ross has played the bagpipes for almost 12 years, having started on the practice chanter in 2004.
He wants to enhance the opportunities for young people with additional support needs, and has been communicating with staff and pupils at Kingspark School, of which he is a former pupil.
His idea is the first of its kind in Dundee, and Ross has dreams of taking the band out to competitions in New York and Japan, once they have had a bit of practice.
The Dundee City Pipe Band will be, according to Ross, a friendly band that all players will be invited to.
He has yet to secure a practice space for the band, but is hopeful of being able to locate to an accessible site that everyone will be able to get to.
Ross said: “I would like to take the band to play at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, I have always wanted to take part in it.
“The plan would be to get the band to play at the World Pipe Band Championships and Tartan Day in New York.
“Dundee City Pipe Band will be friendly and supportive for all. We will welcome players from all over the city and encourage people of all abilities, especially new comers.
“I think my mum Grace will be very proud of my achievements and awards, and of course my new band.”
Lorna Strachan, an occupational therapist who works with Ross, said: “Ross is one of only six people who were awarded a fellowship in Scotland.
“He is very keen to enhance opportunities for young people with additional support needs in Dundee.
“His music teachers, Seonaid Birse and Derek Potter have been very supportive of his new initiative, which was his own idea.
“It has been very clear from the beginning that the band will cater for disabled and non-disabled pipers and drummers.
“With the RSA fellowship, we can develop new music teaching techniques so that people with learning disabilities can learn to play and perform music.”