Tributes to famous Gala piper

Newsdesk Newsdesk - 1020 • Published 27 Jun 2007 14:24

GALASHIELS lost one of its greatest characters with the recent death of Jimmy Rae.

Jimmy, a member of Galashiels Ex-Service Pipe Band for close on 60 years, played with the same bagpipes all his life.

Amazingly, he bought the pipes in India, and played them all over the world.

At home, he played with the band at 50 Braw Lads" Gathering, four years as pipe major, on the Great Wall of China, in Red Square Moscow, New Zealand, Canada and in the Grand Canyon to name a few.

Just as many people pack a book to read when travelling, Jimmy"s pipes were first to go into his case!

However, he will probably be best remembered for playing from the top of mill chimneys before they were demolished.

And as a joiner - or carpenter has he preferred to be known - Jimmy helped with the restoration of Hillslap Tower between Galashiels and Lauder, he played high up on the ruins before completing the job.

Jimmy was held in such high respect by the band that he has a tune called simply 'Jimmy Rae' called after him, and he was filled with emotion when it was played for the first time.

The tune was composed by band piper Drew Ness, who said that Jimmy would always be remembered by the band.

Jimmy learned the pipes in his early "20s when he was in the Army stationed at Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow.

He was posted to Sikandarbad in India near the end of World War 11.

'Jimmy heard about a set of pipes that were for sale in a local shop, and found they were Roberson pipes made in Edinburgh!' said Drew.

'So he bought them and played them all his life.'

Jimmy joined the ex-Service Band in 1947 and was Pipe Major from 1982 until 1985. In 1988, he was given an award for 40 years" service to the band.

'That wasn"t the end of Jimmy"s playing though, and he played right up to 1988 when, due to aching joints and lack of puff, he was finally forced to retire from the band,' said Drew.

And he was presented with a bronze Border Reiver statuette by the Braw Lads" Executive Council for playing at the 50 Gatherings.

He was also thanked by Pipe Major Bruce Hastie for his many years service and was presented with an inscribed silver quaich as a thank-you.

Jimmy played on the top of Laidlaw& Fairgrieve"s and the Galashiels sawmill chimneys before they were demolished.

But he missed out at playing on the top of the Kemp Blair chimney…banned for Health and Safety reasons!

He was a regular at Burns" suppers, piping in the haggis, and is thought to have played at hundreds down the years.

He was given life membership of Galashiels Burns Club and also of the band.

One of his last performances was at Hillslap Tower in 2004. 'He played there on the top of the tower when it was a precarious ruin,' said Drew.

Jimmy remained interested in the band until his death. Said Drew: 'He always wanted to know what was going on and how it was doing.'

Jimmy was also a member of Gala Cycling Club, pipes aboard as well.

Jimmy was always willing to share his stories with others. His visits to the Border Telegraph office to relate his expeditions were a revelation. 'I have some photos an" a"' he would say.

There will never, indeed, be another Jimmy Rae…a true Borders character who carved out a personal niche in life that no-one could match.

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 27 Jun 07

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