Thank you for visiting my new Internet site. I want to give you the opportunity to find out a little about me and my bagpiping, with some useful links and information, as well as details of some of my music, forthcoming albums and music releases.
I have been playing the Pipes for 20 years, since the age of 7. I was Pipe Sergeant of the RAF Halton Pipes and Drums, and have played individually at many special events and contests. I have also been tutoring for a number of years now.
In 2006 I was the lone piper for the opening night of the Edinburgh Tattoo and went on to play three times on top of the castle. It was a very proud moment to undertake such a privilaged task and I was commended by Captain Stuart Sampson (Head of the Army School of Piping) for my efforts.
I am also the current RAF Champion (Civilian section). I have over 75 major awards in Piping.
I have been to Russia twice (representing the RAF as the Official Piper to the British Embassy in Moscow); played the pipes at the last Rugby League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium; was a member of the band that played for the Queen; and have been involved in many other trips abroad.
I have just moved to the wonderful city of Perth, Western Australia to pursue my Piping Career. I am a professional bagpiper with the Western Australia Police Pipe Band, winners at the World Pipe Band Championships a few years back.
I am also trying to develop new musical talent and competent musicians having taken over the lead instructor role at a local up-and-coming band, the Shadow Highlanders. The band is full of potential and many youngsters and will be travelling to the East Coast for the first time in 2009 to Geelong for the Victorian Championships.
I competed in Grade 1 at this years World Championships with St. Mary's, The Band Club, from Sydney, one of the group of top rated bands in the Southern Hemisphere. The band reached the final of the top grade in front of the BBC cameras, making history for the band. Please see recent events for the latest and exciting development with this band!
I am most looking forward to tutoring and helping to further develop piping in Australia, whilst concentrating on the great task of forging strong relationships with the community of Western Australia. I am also hoping to continue releasing new music at the highest level. Some of my compositions are being played by some great bands now and I wish that to progress further.
NEWS / RECENT EVENTS:
News Clip from the World's only independent publication for pipers and drummers
Sydney – November 2, 2008 – The Band Club, Sydney won its first Grade 1 Australian Pipe Band Championship.. The band also took home the Best Drumming prize. "Winning the contest and Best Drum Corps prize has followed on from our World Championships qualification and topped off a wonderful year for the band in its first year back in Grade 1," said Band Club, Sydney Leading-Drummer Dougal McConnell. "Pipe-Major Scott Nicolson and I are very proud of the team's efforts and we are all looking forward to a well earned rest. We will now concentrate on strengthening the ranks in preparation for our 2009 World Championship campaign."
Grade 1 Overall
1st Band Club, Sydney 2nd Australia Highlanders 3rd Queensland Highlanders 4th City of Blacktown
MSR 1st Band Club, Sydney (1,1,1,1) 2nd Australia Highlanders (3,2,2,2) 3rd Queensland Highlanders (2,4,4,3) 4th City of Blacktown (4,3,3,4)(drumming)
Medley 1st Band Club, Sydney (2,1,2,1) 2nd Australia Highlanders (1,2,1,2) 3rd Queensland Highlanders (3,4,3,2) 4th City of Blacktown (4,3,4,4)
Hugely successful book launchI am proud to announce the book launch and recital of the newest international collection of pipe tunes from young composers from around the world. It is called the WARNING COLLECTION. It was launched at the National Piping Centre, Scotland. Attended by a packed crowd, including top players and composers, the book is now in the hands of hundreds of pipers, including nearly all top Pipe Majors in Grade 1.The book features: Paul Hughes: Formerly The Vale of Atholl, now The Band Club. John Roarty: The Vale of Atholl. Angus Roberts: The Band Club, Australia. Benjamin McLaughlin: Manawatu, New Zealand. Myself: The Band Club & Western Australia Police, Australia.
If you would like a copy of the book please complete the enquiry form in the Contact Me section. Please also see two sample tunes in the My Tunes section.
This book represents a really great effort from some great up and coming composers. I really hope you will consider purchasing this and learn some exciting material. On a recent review from John Mulhearn, one of my tunes has this comment:
'Pether's Feather Bonnet' by Westgate has a nice lilt and uses all of the notes of the scale. I don't think it would sound out of place alongside any of the great 6/8s that you might find in the likes of John MacFadyen's Book 1.
Piper Iain Westgate and Lifeline chief executive Amanda Wheeler warm to the 2008 Winter Ceilidh. Picture: Andrew Ritchie www.communitypix.com.au
CEILIDH LIFTS MOOD FOR LIFELINE THOUSANDS of Australians are touched by depression and suicide each year.
Lifeline provides a range of essential services, including a 24-hour telephone counselling service, to break down social isolation and offer a compassionate ear to those in need.
In August thecharity hosted the 2008 Winter Ceilidh – a Scottish-themed dinner-dance extravaganza – to take the chill out of winter and raise funds for its suicide prevention services.
The event, at Perth Town Hall was on Saturday, August 9, included a Champagne and canapé reception, three-course dinner and drinks, entertainment by the WA Police Pipe Band and Heel n Toe Band, spot prizes and a raffle, all overseen by MC Gerry Gannon.
Lifeline WA chief executive Amanda Wheeler said the ceilidh was a good fit for the charity, which promotes emotional wellbeing.
“It is a social and community-based experience and it is life-affirming when people have a sense of belonging and engagement with others. Above all, it’s fun,” Ms Wheeler said.
She said demand for Lifeline’s services increased every year and the charity relied entirely on donations from the community.
“The challenge for us is to encourage men suffering from emotional distress to seek help. Men aged 20 to 45 are four times more likely to commit suicide than any other demographic.
“We want to help people to develop the skills to recognise and respond to others who are suffering and create a more compassionate culture.”
Lifeline was founded in 1963 by the late Reverend Alan Walker, who was determined not to let loneliness, isolation or anxiety be the cause of death.
There is a new call to Lifeline nationally every minute.
In 2006 I was the lone piper for the opening night of the Edinburgh Tattoo and went on to play three times on top of the castle. It was a very proud moment to undertake such a privilaged task and I was commended by Captain Stuart Sampson (Head of the Army School of Piping) for my efforts. 
CEILIDH LIFTS MOOD FOR LIFELINE THOUSANDS of Australians are touched by depression and suicide each year.