"I like a challenge! Not a third tandem skydive. This time, learning to play the chanter, the part of a bagpipe used to create a melody, with the intention of passing the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board Level 2 examination (there is no Level 1).

Since November last year, I have been taking weekly lessons in the chanter, under the expert guidance of the school’s Senior Pipe Major Iona Scotson.

Why? Throughout my 11 years working at Gordon’s School, I have admired and supported our student Pipe Band. Its main focus is to lead the eight School Parades each year, one along Whitehall, but they are involved in so much more, playing at many Surrey civic, community and private events, at Wembley, Windsor Castle, with Army Pipe Bands, this year competing in ‘the Worlds’, Glasgow. This takes commitment, teamwork and determination. While I am unlikely to progress to bagpipes, let alone manage to both play and march at the same time, I can appreciate some of the challenge of starting to learn and along the way, raise sufficient funds to purchase another set of bagpipes, maybe two.

Would you sponsor me, help encourage me to practise sufficiently well so that I pass this examination? It will means so much to me to achieve this and in doing so, leave a small legacy with the Gordon’s School Pipe Band."

Susan Meikle