We report the sad and sudden passing of piper and reedmaker Bob Hain, Leslie, Fife. He was 87.
After a career in the Black Watch, during which time he was selected to be Lone Piper at the Edinburgh Tattoo, Bob left the Army and joined Cupar & District Pipe Band.
Only a short while after joining he was elected Pipe Major. This began a very successful period for the band picking up major prizes at championships all over Scotland.
In Bob’s early years his focus was on improving the band by teaching youngsters. Most of those in the band were taught by him.
He produced many fine pipers who went on to play in other bands in Fife and beyond. One was Iain Hutton who was appointed Pipe Major of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
Bob was always captivated by the sound a bagpipe could produce and in striving to better the tone of the band became engrossed in the art of reedmaking.
He devised all sorts of ways of cutting and shaping reeds. He created tools that would make this easier to accomplish. He never stopped innovating and in the end was turning out good reeds with a consistency admired worldwide.
Turning to drone reeds, he learned how to cut and fashion cane with dexterity. It was a pleasure to watch him at work. Bob Shepherd from Dysart was a regular visitor to Bob’s workshop and studied under the master reedmaker and so did George Lumsden of Edinburgh Police.
Satisfied customers at home and abroad meant his order book was always full – as it was on the day he died.
Later in his life Bob also turned out sets of pipes based on Henderson’s iconic bores. All of this he was doing until very recently and his sad death on Tuesday night this week.
Many readers will know and remember the late Sandy Hain, Bob’s brother, who after Army service emigrated to America. Their sister Jean was also a fine piper and was P/M of the Lochgelly Ladies Pipe Band.
Andy Hain and Robert Barnes
