Roddy Weir was appointed as the Vale’s Lead Tutor last month.
The Fife-based piping instructor also takes over from Gary Nimmo as Pipe Major of the our Grade 4 band.
A spokesman for the Vale said: “Roddy has been Pipe Sergeant of our Grade 3 band for the past couple of years and was one of the key factors in our successes this season [the Vale won two of the major championships in Grade 3a]. His appointment to take over from Gary was really a no-brainer for us. Roddy is vastly experienced as a piper, Pipe Major and a piping tutor. To say we are delighted he accepted this appointment would be an understatement.”
Weir works at Fife Council as a full-time piping instructor in its schools. He was taught at school in Dundee by Vale legend, Ian Duncan, and went on to play with MacKenzie Caledonia, Drambuie Kirkliston, Scottish Power, Shotts and Dykehead and Fife Police.
As a soloist Weir won many prizes including at the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting as well as numerous contests elsewhere. Before retiring from the British Army, Weir was a Pipe Major at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming in Edinburgh.
The Vale appointed Gary Nimmo as its lead tutor and Grade 4 band Pipe Major in late 2019. A spokesman added: “We thank Gary for his excellent contribution over the last couple of years and he leaves with our very best wishes. We will miss him.”