I joined my first band Deeside Ladies in the mid 70’s. During this time I was initially taught by the late Kathy Dempster and later received tuition from Alistair Dowling. While in Deeside Ladies, like many other bands you would have to teach the learner drummers, this was something I enjoyed and where it all started. 

I moved to Turriff & District for a year under L/D Harry Orlandi before joining SYHA Vale of Atholl in grade 1 under L/D John Moneagle, unfortunately this was only to be for one year too. Another move was made to Culter & District Grade 3 under Brian Martin (Mooner) where we received tuition from Tom & Gordon Brown. I was giving tuition to the drummers of the 47th Culter BB novice band.  

At the end of 1987 I joined Scotrail Vale of Atholl under L/D Paul Turner and went on to win the European and Scottish Championships drumming in our first season with a new drum corps. I also won the Ladies World Solo Drumming Championship the same year Paul Turner won the overall title. I later moved to Turriff & District for another year as Leading Drummer, then joined Grampian Police under Leading Drummers George Clark, Paul Turner & Simon Lipp for several years before making my final move to Hydro Electric Buchan.  

The biggest influence in my drumming career has got to be George Clark (Former L/D of Grampian Police) who gave me great tuition over the years and pushed me on to succeed. He certainly had the patience of a saint and a great sense of humour. Many evenings were spent in George’s garage learning all the competing and concert drum scores for the Vale of Atholl. 

 Thank you George. 

At 18yrs old I was teaching Michael Haggart who was 5 years old at the time, he went on to win 2 Junior World Solo Drumming titles and several local prizes. Michael played in Grade 1 for several years before becoming leading drummer for a couple of local bands. Over the years I have given tuition to different bands and individuals who were all mainly Grade 4 or Novice Juvenile at the time, listed below some of them and where they are now. 

Michael Haggart – Former L/D Grampian Police G2 

Nicky Gibson – L/D Bucksburn & District G2 

Trevor Chrichton – L/D Culter & District G4A 

David McHaffie – Former L/D Deeside Caledonia G2 

Marc Johnson – Former L/D Grampian Police G2 – Between Bands 

Greg Skinner – Buchan Peterson G2 

Scott Walker – Buchan Peterson G2 

Ronald Simpson – Buchan G2 – Retired 

Ian Brown – L/D Deeside Caledonia G3A 

Mark Smith  – Culter & District G4A 

Mark Ross – Culter & District G4A 

Daniel Thomson – Deeside Caledonia Grade 3A 

Matthew Crichton – Buchan Peterson G2 

Kirsten Black – L/D Oldmeldrum RBL G4B 

Callum Anderson – Deeside Caledonia G3A 

Hannah Mitchell – Deeside Caledonia G3A 

Eleanor Whyte – Buchan Peterson G2 

Oldmeldrum RBL  Grade 4B 

Turriff & District Novice B 

Towie Grade 4B 

Several young drummers without bands and some from local bands. 

Apologies to anyone I missed.