Megan Beveridge

Megan Beveridge (born 1994/1995 (age 25–26)) is a Scottish soldier who became the first regular army, female "lone piper" at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.[1] The Lance Bombardier from Burntisland, in Fife was also the first female to pass the army's pipe major course. Aged 21, she is also the youngest person to date to have passed.

Early life and education

Beveridge started playing the bagpipes at the age of nine, after she was inspired by her sister Kerry-Ann who played in The Black Watch Cadets Pipes and Drums. She also played with the cadets as well as the Royal Burgh of Inverkeithing Pipe Band.[2]

Army career

She joined the army after leaving school at the age of 16 and completed a year at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate. She is a member of 19th Regiment Royal Artillery, The Scottish Gunners. She chose the Gunners to improve her prospects as a piper. When she is not piping she is a Transport Junior non-commissioned officer, co-ordinating transport for the day-to-day running of the regiment.[3]

Lone piper

In August 2016, she was chosen to take on the prestigious role of the Lone Piper at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. She played the lament 'Sleep Dearie Sleep' on the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle to an 8,800-strong audience.[4]

"It [piping] takes a bit of practice and you need quite a lot of patience - there's a technique to it," she told the BBC who chose her as one of their 100 Women in 2016.[5]

Her ambition is to one day be appointed the Army's senior Pipe Major and eventually become the Sovereign's Piper.[1]

References
  1. Piper, Laura (15 August 2016). "Fife soldier is first army female in history to be 'Lone Piper'". STV News. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  2. Scoon, Tanya (15 August 2016). "Burntisland girl Megan makes history at Military Tattoo". Fife Today. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  3. "Scots Piper Megan makes history at Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo". British Army Website. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  4. "Female lone piper makes history at Edinburgh Military tattoo". Daily Record. 16 August 2016.
  5. "100 Women 2016: Meet Megan, the British Army's 'lone piper'". BBC News. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
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