Olympics will be piping hot thanks to globe-trotting Briggs man

Jonathan Graham (22) is celebrating graduating with first class honours with a trip to the Olympics.

Jonathan has played around the world, both in traditional pipe bands and as part of Bags of Rock - a group specialising in bagpipe versions of rock classics.

He was the only piper this year to receive a 1st class BA Hons degree from the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, while also finding time to teach at the National Piping Centre, in Glasgow.

Now the Scottish Government has invited him down to London this week to pipe Olympic guests into Scotland House - a temporary venue in the city’s Pall Mall, where more than 40 events are being held to promote Scotland to international visitors.

Then he’ll be tasked with telling invited journalists all about his home country and the art of bagpiping - in an event organised by Visit Scotland.

The former Bishopbriggs Academy pupil said: “I’m really looking forward to it.

“It all came about after I was selected to be the lone piper at the Commonwealth Games handover in Delhi.

“That was in front of 60,000 people and a televised audience of a billion. It’s maybe not quite as big as that, but it’s still an honour to be there for my country.”

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