Andy Potter

I am currently a serving soldier who is based in Dorset.  This gives me a large proportion of the South of England that is easily within reach of myself.  London, Bristol, Plymouth are all within 2 hours. 

Since 1992 I have played a set of full silver Henderson Bagpipes with a David Naill Pipe Chanter.

I have played to all types of audiences at all venues (From Mike Oldfield and Dire Straits to Garden Fetes).  Luckily I have had the chance to make Pipe Band recordings, compete both solo and band.  I have toured every country in Europe and played in the USA, Canada and Australia a few times throughout my military career.

Piping History

• 1979 - Started lessons with P/M Ian Duncan, Pitlochry at Whitfield High School Dundee.  I studied under Ian till 1983 and competed solo with moderate success in the Dundee area until 1985.

• 1980  - Joined McKenzie Caledonian Pipe Band (Juvenile) Dundee.

• 1982 - 85 Played with Grade 2 Band and was Pipe Major of the Juvenile Pipe Band.

• 1983 – Joined Gillanders and McLeod as Bagpipe Maker.

• 1985 – Joined the Royals Scots Dragoon Guards Pipes and Drums.

• 1985 – 1992 Played in Grade 1 with Pipes and Drums.

• 1992- 1993 Attended and passed Pipe Majors Course at Edinburgh Castle, studying under Major Gavin Stoddart MBE BEM and P/M Joe Rafferty BEM. (Hugh Macallum, John Mackenzie and DJS Murray were the finalist panel). 

• 1993 – 1998 Played in Grade 2 with Pipes and Drums.

• 1994-96 Employed as a Piping Tutor at the Army Piping and Drumming Wing.  Working under P/M's Steven Small and Stewart Samson.  Again competed solo and won a couple of prizes.  Spent 3 weeks teaching in Sri Lanka.

• 1998 – Moved to full time soldiering for career reasons.  

• 2000 - Since then I have played mainly at low-key military functions in Dorset.  I did play with a Grade 4 Band for a short time however they did not have a professional approach so I decided to just continue playing as a soloist.  

• 2001 – Spent one week playing in Turkey.

• 2002- Spent one week playing in Jordan.

• 2003 – Played at a few quiet weddings and military dinner night type functions.