Neil “WEC” Forrester initially joined the band in 1999 and played in the 2001 band which was pipped to the Champions of Champions title by Ravarra. Due to family commitments Neil was forced to take a sabatical until re-entering the fold at the end of the 2005 season. His finger gymnastics and the banter between Neil and Andy Roberston was sorely missed.

When did you start playing and who with?

I started playing when I was 11 years old and the first band that I was a member of was Elgin & District Pipe Band (Grade 4), under the leadership of P/M Jim McGregor.

What inspired you to start playing?

My late grandfather, William McIntosh, came up with the great idea of buying me a chanter (I think it became too onerous a task for him to bounce me on his knee and he had to think of an alternative pastime to satisfy my curiosities!!!)

Who/What has influenced you in your playing?

I have had many influences regarding tuition. To name but a few, Brian McKenzie, Gordon Roy, Richard Anderson, Jim McGregor and William Macdonald.

What other bands do you like to see and hear?

There are a few bands – FMM, SLOT, SFU and FA Q – the latter band is a lesser known quantity from a wee town in the Outer Hebrides…….I was only young and the abbreviation of their name has stuck in my mind ever since. (it was not so much of a band as that of a quartet – the “FAMOUS ALFIE QUARTETTE”).

Do you have any favourite tunes or musical pieces?

A nice meaty MSR will always take my fancy – Mrs John MacColl, Atholl Cummers, John Morrison.

Are there any particular pipe band or solo performances that stand out in you mind?

Stuart Liddle’s recital at the Ukrainian Club in Manchester – absolutely sublime. Victoria Police winning the Worlds – scintillating.

What do you do for a living?

I work for Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council in Manchester as an I.T. Project Officer.

What other hobbies do you have?

That would be telling!!

What other types of music do you like to listen to?

I’m pretty easy when it comes to music. My collection is filled with folk, dance, indie and even a little bit of classical.

My favourite band of all time is the Stone Roses.

Do you play any other instruments?

I play the Scottish small pipes and whistles and did so with a couple of Folk Bands – Innisfree, Criachan and even guested with Runrig in Inverness some years back.

Any amusing moments that stick in your mind from your years in pipe bands?

There was a trip to Tuscany, Italy where myself, Craig Sked (wonderful player of the Great Highland), Gareth Rudolph (equally wonderful player now with SLOT) and Andrew Morty (a crazy horse with crazy fingers) who all thought that a life-sized figure of Ronald McDonald sitting on a park bench should be placed in more plush surroundings than the local MacDonalds playpark. This was of course at about 6.30am in the morning after a heavy night of debauchery.

We carried ol’ Ronny and bench 500 yards down the road and into our 5-star Hotel, straight into the breakfast hall. We moved a couple of chairs to make way for the bench, fetched our breakfasts and sat down with him – a cosy affair.

The hotel staff, who couldn’t speak a word of Belgian…………..or English, did not know where to turn. There were no signs to say that Ronny was going to make an entrance and our fellow pipers were in absolute stitches.

I am sure ol’ Ronny enjoyed himself but he had to return to his humble surroundings just before the Italian boys in blue were called!

What, if anything, annoys you in the pipeband world?

Erratic judging and Mowgli.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A BREAK IN YOUR PLAYING CAREER? IF SO, WHY?

The only break I have was on two wooden chanter which I twisted from the base whilst taking them out of the chanter stock!!

What's been the best band trip (not necessarily with D&G Police)?

Tuscany, Italy – with the West Midlands Police. It was an absolute riot from start to finish……….and we must not forget about Mowgli thinking that it would be better to wear a bottle of vino than drink it!!!!!!......SHUDIBON!!

What are the highlights of your playing career?

Had a very successful year with D&G in 2001 just missing out on Champions of Champions Grade 2.

3rd in the World in Grade 4 with Elgin & District when I was only 14 still lingers on as a nice memory.

Solo-wise, I won a medal at the Northern Meeting as an under 18. There are not many more medals that I would have to dust off!

I have also seen a fair bit of the world playing with folk and pipe bands – Canada, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong to name but a few.

And are there any low points?

Only my centre of gravity.

What are your goals within the pipe band world?

Grade 1 in the next couple of years if not sooner.

Finally, if you could be re-incarnated as anyone, at any point in history, who would it be?