Tributes flood in as champion Pipe band drummer Neil Cranston dies at 45

FRIENDS today paid tribute to a world champion drummer who died from a brain haemorrhage as he mowed his lawn, aged just 45.

Neil Cranston, a step-dad of two, was a flank drummer in the world-renowned Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band and two-time solo drumming world champion.

He was struck down by a brain haemorrhage as he worked in his garden in Armadale, West Lothian, last Tuesday and died the following day.

Gordon Brown, who is leading drummer in the band, joined up with Neil when they were 11 years old.

The pair moved from the junior to the adult band at just 14, and it was not long before Neil won the world solo championships two years running.

Mr Brown, 46, said: "Neil was always the rising star and became one of the best drummers in the world.

"He won the world solo championship in 1977 and 1978, and he'd only been drumming for a few years.

"His father John had taught him before he joined the band, and my father, who was lead drummer, taught us for a long time after that.

"We were really like a family and we were with him at the end. It's still a terrible shock now, and it's been very hard for his wife Heather, and her two children, Jamie and Islay."

As part of the pipe band's tours Neil travelled the world, and performed at competitions and concerts as far afield as Malaysia.

He also devoted his spare time to instructing the band's junior recruits, as well as supporting his step-children, who both play the bagpipes.

Ross Walker, his pipe major in the band, said: "Since his death it's become clear just how much work Neil had been doing in the background, working one on one with the younger members. That's what he was like, he worked hard behind the scenes to make the band what it is.

"We've had messages of support from the four corners of the globe. He was very well respected among the other pipe bands and I know their members will be very upset as well."

Along with Neil's success as a pipe band player he was also regarded as one of the best ceilidh band musicians in the country, and played to ex-pats in Kuwait and Canada and Britain's armed forces in Germany.

Last Saturday BBC Scotland's Take the Floor paid tribute to Neil, who had last year completed his first album with the Pentlands Ceilidh Band.

Derek Rae, who played in the band with Neil for 20 years, said: "He was in a ceilidh band since he was about 16 and became one of the most well respected players around.

"It took us 19 years to get the CD done but I'm so glad we did because it will last forever."

His family and friends will be saying a final goodbye at The New Livingston Crematorium on Monday at 3:30pm, where the pipe band will play him out for the last time.

Gordon added: "His family don't want it to be a black tie funeral, they want to make it a celebration of his life and everything he achieved.

"The band is going to play at his funeral on Monday and we'll make sure we give him a proper send-off.

"We're playing in the Scottish Championship next Saturday and Neil had been working hard and really spurring all the guys on to get them ready for the competition.

"He would have loved to be there with us, but he'll be with us in spirit."