St Columba’s High School pupil John Cumming (14) travelled to Glasgow last weekend for the Robert Burns World Federation’s national secondary schools festival and emerged as the ‘king o’ men for a’ that’ as he won the Anne Gaw Cup for S1-S2 piping.

The competition, held at Hutchesons Grammar School, attracts entries across the age categories of S1-S2, S3-S4 and S5-S6 in four disciplines; bagpiping, singing, instrumental and recitations and John, of Arthur Street, wowed the judges with his performances of ‘A Man’s a Man for a’ That’, ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ and ‘Rantin’ Rovin’ Robin’.

The talented piper, who performed at Abbot House’s Burns Supper earlier this year, plays with the bands of St Columba’s and West Fife schools, the latter of which took part in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow last year, and proud mum Susan said, “He was chuffed just to get through the heats and although his band played at the worlds and he won a few things with his piping, this is the thing he is most proud of. It is a fantastic competition and he even had one of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers congratulate him on Facebook which he was delighted with!

“He’s been piping since he was in primary six and did it because his brother Michael was already playing. He was really taken by it and has four sessions a week – two with the school and two with the West Fife schools band. He’s always looking for new tunes to try and is keen on both traditional and the modern bagpipe rock style, but this has confirmed to him that he can do ‘proper’ piping if you like.

“I’ve never seen him so keen to win a competition and he is already looking forward to next year. I hope that it will inspire other children at St Columba’s to enter because it is a fantastic competition, and I am really proud of him.”