Forres and District Pipe Band chairman John Channon passes away following motor accident near Auldearn
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WARM tributes have been paid to the father of the modern Forres and District Pipe Band (FDPB).
Friends of John Channon MBE (78), father to John and Rory, husband of the late Louise and beloved grandfather, of Darklass Road, Dyke, are invited to attend his funeral service at Tom Ross and Sons’ chapel on Thursday, January 27 at 1pm.
Moray’s Lord Lieutenant and FDPB president, Major General Seymour Monro, paid tribute to the friend whose life was cut short by a motor accident near Auldearn on January 12.
He said: “John had a wonderful personality and was a friend to us all. He was a mentor and the father of our family. Without his vision, actions, guidance and hard work, there would be no FDPB. We will miss him and we thank him for what he has done for Forres.”
John had a distinguished career in the RAF, eventually becoming a Wing Commander. He learned to play the pipes over 50 years ago at the RAF Apprentice School at Halton, Cheshire in England. John went on to have a lifelong association with the piping community as his duties took him all over, including Tibet where he played at the request of pilgrims in 2004.
After his posting to RAF Kinloss in 1964, he played in the Kinloss band but because of the often unusual locations of his service life, was mainly a solo piper.
On retirement in 2009, John joined Forres and District Pipe Band as a piper and became band secretary a year later. In 2013, he was elected chairman with a remit to start a long-term improvement project. This included development of a competition band and introduction of a youth induction programme. John became largely responsible for the band’s committee, administration, programme, and fundraising.
Major Monro said: “The band has gone from strength-to-strength under John’s leadership. We have taken part in Highland Games and the European Pipe Band Championships. Four years running, we performed at The Highland Military Tattoo. We have won prizes and supported community events. John himself was often the solo piper on these occasions.”
John was made Chieftain of Forres Highland Games in 2019.
Major Monro added: “That was an indication of the esteem in which he was held in the community. The band has many more players of quality today in large measure because of John’s recruitment and the tutoring systems he helped put in place. He ensured everything was set up with guidelines and principles to underpin everything.”
John led the band through the Covid-19 lockdowns of the past two years via quiz nights, virtual practice sessions and a weekly newsletter. At the time of his death, he was helping to plan the band’s trip to Goslar, Germany this summer.
FDPB treasurer and acting chairwoman, Kathleen Robertson said: “We are shocked by John’s loss but committed to ensuring his vision for the band will be his legacy.”
Forres Events chairman Alan James helped organise Piping At Forres, the European Pipe Band Championships from 2013 to 2019.
He said: “John’s tragic loss has shocked us all. After a very successful career, he put his boundless energies into the community. John supported and encouraged, saw what needed to be done and brought everyone along with him. He was unassuming but this belied a strength of character. He still had a lot to give, especially in developing piping and drumming instruction for younger players. This development will continue as a legacy to him.”
Moray Councillors also paid tribute to the well known and much loved volunteer.
Lorna Creswell (Forres, Independent) added: “John spearheaded music tuition in the council to include more support for pipes and drums learning in schools.”
George Alexander (Forres, Independent) said: “John’s zest for life has brought great benefits in the field of piping but also to the many other interests he had in life. May the Halls of Heaven ring to the sound of his pipes.”
