Pipe tune composed to honour air ambulance "angels"

It's a rallying toe-tapping march, designed to stir the soul and muster support.

And the cause behind the newly composed pipe tune by leading Perthshire piper Ross McNaughton is Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).

Ross, Piping Instructor at the Robert Gordon College in Aberdeen, penned "Angels Of The Glens" in tribute to the crew of SCAA - Scotland's only charity-funded helicopter air ambulance service.

And he dedicated the 2/4 march to the pilots and paramedics whose work has saved countless lives and impacted on thousands more.

"I've seen first hand the life-saving role of helicopters in my military and offshore careers," explained former Black Watch NCO Ross. "I know how the precious minutes gained by helicopter transfer and expert paramedic care can make the difference between life and death when time is running out.

"I've been a big supporter of SCAA since the service launched in 2013 and I wanted to do something special for them - something using my skills to honour their's. SCAA does an amazing job in Scotland and I just wanted to show them my appreciation in the best way I could. "

The result was Angels Of The Glens, which was premiered at SCAA on the charity's sixth birthday to an enthusiastic audience which included Scotland's Lord High Commissioner, The Duke of Buccleuch, who immediately requested a copy of the composition as an important addition to his personal musical archive.

John Bullough, Chairman of SCAA, expressed his delight and gratitude to Ross for "an incredibly thoughtful gift".

"Ross has been a supporter of SCAA since Day One and he proudly wears a black SCAA wristband in recognition of donating over £1,000 of his own money to the charity in our first year," said Mr Bullough.

"SCAA is hugely privileged to have a composer and Pipe Major of Ross's standing and expertise pen a truly inspiring march in tribute to us," he added. "SCAA is a Scottish charity - there for all the people of Scotland - and we proudly bear our own registered tartan on the tail of our instantly recognisable helicopter air ambulance. Now, with the gift of 'Angels Of The Glens', people will come to recognise our charity audibly as I'm sure it will become a firm favourite - picked up and played by pipers the world over."

Ross, from Pitlochry, has been piping since he was six-years-old and is currently Pipe Major with the Vale of Atholl Grade 4 development Pipe Band and piper with The Atholl Highlanders. He said he was "immensely proud" of the tune composed with SCAA in mind.

"A march is a rallying call to supporters to fall in and follow and I hope people will get behind SCAA as it continues to help those most in need," he said.

"SCAA brings life-saving support to some of the most remote parts of Scotland and if you're lying ill or injured in one of our inaccessible glens then a team such as SCAA appears, literally, like Angels of the Glens."

You can listen to a clip of Angels Of The Glens by Pipe Major Ross McNaughton via the link https://youtu.be/KbMl3BbYgZU