[1] He started playing in Raffrey Pipe Band at the age of 9, and received tuition from Sandy Cummings.
After taking a break of a few months, he returned to the band in 1971, by which time Raffrey had merged with Field Marshal Montgomery to become Freymont, in Grade 3.
In 1976 it was decided to reform the band as Field Marshal Montgomery owing to the balance of players in Freymont.
On 1 July 2019, Queens University Belfast conferred a Doctor of Literature for services to music.
On 4 July 2019, Ulster University conferred a Doctor of Letters for services to pipe band music nationally and internationally.