Brave piper scales Glasgow Central Station roof to honour armed forces

A brave bagpiper scaled the roof of one of Scotland’s most historic train stations to honour our armed forces.

Piper Graeme Bell made history as the first musician to play 50 feet above the busy platforms of Glasgow Central station.

Graeme, who serves as a lance corporal with the Royal Signals, serenaded commuters with a number of laments to honour the hundreds of thousands of troops who passed through the station during its 145-year history – many never to return.

He said: “It’s a huge privilege to get to come up here to pay a musical tribute to all of those who have gone before us. It is important that we always remember our past and our absent friends. Honouring our heritage isn’t just something that should be done in November on Remembrance Sunday.

“For some people, every day is Remembrance. It was really poignant to be able to do this given Glasgow Central Station’s rich military history. This place was not only a transportation hub but a critical part of the nation’s wartime infrastructure and heritage. It is definitely one of the highest places I have ever played. It was a bit nerve wracking at first but worth it as the views are spectacular.”

The train station has a long military history and connection with the armed forces especially during both World Wars. During World War I, Glasgow Central Station was a major hub for troop movements.

Soldiers were transported from all over Scotland to the station before being deployed to the front lines in Europe. The station also features a war memorial dedicated to the Caledonian Railway employees who lost their lives during World War I.

One of the platforms was also used as a temporary mortuary for fallen soldiers during the war. In World War II, the A listed building again played a crucial role in the transportation of troops.

It also facilitated the evacuation of civilians, particularly children, from cities and towns to the countryside to escape Luftwaffe bombing raids. Two years ago on platform one, the station unveiled a poignant wall of 156 memorial plaques marking the lives of men and women in the armed forces.

Station manager Drew Burns, said: “It is always an honour to celebrate and commemorate this station’s proud military history. It is safe to say that we have never had a piper up here before. It was a great day.”

The station has one of the largest glazed roofs in the world consisting of 48,000 panes of glass covering an area of roughly 6.8 acres.

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