Scotland supporter from Thurso is bringing skirl of the pipes to Euro 2024

A piper from Thurso is helping to bring the unmistakable sound of Scotland to the heart of the Euro 2024 football tournament.

Bob Bell will be taking part in a series of official performances in Germany as a member of the Pipes and Drums of the Tartan Army.

He and dozens of other traditional musicians are playing at four organised events, starting in Munich on Thursday – on the eve of the Scottish team’s opening Group A match against the host nation.

Two performances are planned for Cologne, where the Scots face Switzerland next Wednesday, and one on June 23 in Stuttgart where Steve Clarke’s team meet Hungary in their final group game.

Bob (37) was a member of Thurso Pipe Band from 2003 until 2008 and joined again after moving back to the town in 2022 following a spell in Aberdeen. He is a senior financial accountant working remotely for a worldwide engineering services company.

He explained how he became involved in the Pipes and Drums of the Tartan Army.

“It started out as six or seven of us who know each other from playing at Scotland away games over the past 15 years or so. Through Facebook we’ve managed to get in touch with over 40 pipers and we’re hoping to have close to 20 pipers play at three of the four events.

“The main event is leading the march to the stadium in Cologne where we hope to have close to 30 pipers playing.

“We have pipers from all over the country – from Thurso to the Borders, from Ayrshire to Aberdeenshire. Orkney and Skye are also represented, and a Scot who stays in the USA is also taking his pipes over and joining in.

“We have two under-18s and two over-70s involved and have all abilities from grade one players and accomplished soloists to people who play for fun.

“We’ve put together a programme of well-known tunes and tried to be as inclusive as possible to accommodate all abilities.

“Myself and William Boyle took on admin duties and have been in touch with, amongst others, the SFA, German authorities and the UEFA host city teams to bring the official performances together.

“We will be playing with the Stuttgart University Pipe Band in their home city and hope to build on the Tartan Army’s reputation of creating bonds of friendship and camaraderie wherever we go.

“We will be playing some family favourite tunes and hope to make a bit of money for the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal at our Munich outing.

“With 29 pipers having successfully registered their pipes through UEFA, we will of course be playing inside the stadiums at Scotland’s three group games as well, hoping to inspire and cheer on Steve Clarke and the boys to make Scottish football history and progress in the tournament.

“Here’s hoping for a great summer for our country.”

This is Bob’s second European Championship as a Scotland supporter and he is there as a member of Thurso-based Top Joe’s Tartan Army.

Like all Scotland fans, he is hoping the team can qualify from the group stages of a major tournament for the first time.

“I think we have to be targeting the Switzerland game for a win,” Bob said. “From there, who knows what will happen.”

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