We regret to report the passing of P/M Robert Kilgour late of the Scots Guards. P/M Kilgour died at his home in Edinburgh.
Bob Kilgour was born in Edinburgh in 1924 and in 1940 he received a practice chanter for his birthday and started to learn piping thus, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. He joined the Scots Guards in 1944. He attained the rank of Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion (1962) before leaving the Army in 1966. He moved to Denmark in the early 1970s and had a significant impact n the development of piping and pipe bands in that country before moving back to Scotland.
P/M Bernard Bouhadana of the Grade 2 Balagan band said: ‘I was very sad to hear that Bob had died. He was one of my important teachers. He made a huge contribution to piping in Denmark.’
Former Scots Guardsman Neil Clarke said: ‘Saddened today to learn of Bob Kilgour’s death. I never knew him in the Scots Guards, he was several generations before me. I did meet him a few times through the Scots Guards Pipers’ Branch and found him a true gent and very likeable man.
‘What’s perhaps amazing is that he outlived so many contemporaries who also thought of him as an ‘old guy’
Well done Bob, privilege to have met you.’
Hear about Bob’s life in his own words on this excerpt from the ‘Noting the Tradition’ series on the Piping Centre’s website.
Another sadly missed piper and tutor, Tony Wilson (Campbeltown), pictured in the back rank, I do believe?
Was he also P/M of the 1st Bn Seaforth Highlanders 1953-1954?
Aye, Bob many years ago told me, that he at one time had landed the job as Pipe Major in The Seaforth Highlanders, at a time when both the Seaforths and 2nd Scots Guards were stationed in Egypt. His time with the Seaforths how ever was rather short,
as during his time there, Bob became more and more frustrated with things, as members of the pipes & drums were used for all sorts of odd jobs, and had less time for piping and drumming.
So one day, coming back from a long and warm several days journey on train escorting some prisoners out to the canal zone,
Bob had had enough of a unit ” that did not looked out for their pipers”, opted for a transfer back to Scots Guards and as this was granted him, simply went up the road to the SG camp and a very warm ” Welcome back” !
So sad news about our old friend. Bob Kilgour had a huge inpact on piping, both in this country as well as in neighbouring Sweden.
Tom Bruun
Strøby
Denmark
Thank you, Tom