Val McKay (†)
Piper (retired), Life Member
Val lived nearly all his life in the small Southland town of Tuatapere. His first parade was with the local band on New Year’s Day, 1952, at the Tuatapere Sports. He was only 12 years old.
In 1960, he travelled to Scotland where he received tuition from Pipe Major J.B. Robertson of the Scots Guards. He competed around the Highland Games Circuit the following season. Coincidentally, Pipe Major Robertson was the Officer in charge of the Mardi Band in Egypt during the Second World War and knew Val’s original teacher, Roy Campbell, who was a Pipe Major of that band.
Val also played with the Dundee Police Pipe Band, and on his return to New Zealand, was appointed Pipe Major of the Tuatapere Caledonian Pipe Band. He continued to compete as a soloist until his hand was injured in a chainsaw accident. He later joined the Waimatuku Southern Scenic Highland Pipe Band and served as Pipe Major for nearly 15 years.
In 1998, he played with the City of Dunedin at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1998.
Val joined the Pipes and Drums of Christchurch City when it was formed in 2009 and remained an active member until 2015. He served for a time as Pipe Sergeant.