ASHBY-based district councillor Kenny Horn said he had two years of bagpipe lessons before playing live in Market Street last weekend.

Cllr Horn, currently chairman of North West Leicestershire District Council, helped launch the 2024 Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in Ashby Town Centre.

The Scottish-born town and district councillor played alongside Michael Gordon, who was his tutor and who played at a Remembrance Day service in Ashby a decade ago.

Together, they performed for shoppers and visitors to the town last Saturday.

Cllr Horn told Ashby Nub News: "My son got married a year ago, and someone, a year before then, suggested it would be a good idea to play the bagpipes at the wedding.

"That sparked a steep learning curve and I originally started at the Piping Centre in Glasgow, but there was nothing like one to one tuition.

"But then I miraculously found Michael who's as local as Long Eaton - and he plays for the LA Scots and has featured in the World Championships on more than one occasion.

"It was a dream to find someone like Michael to support me. So there I was, playing in public for the first time, which was a nerve-racking experience, but for a good cause which is the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

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"There is a huge association with the bagpipes of course.

"It was an absolute pleasure, but it did take me two years to get to this stage. Michael had to have a lot of patience.

"I'm not the easiest person to teach!"

Michael admitted the day had gone well with both pipers earning applause from passers-by.

He said: "If you try to learn to play later in life, you can struggle, it's easier if you're very young.

"But Ken's made marvellous progress and we started off by playing Flowers of the Forest which is a lament that was played at the Queen's funeral and Prince Philip's.

"It's associated with Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, and played at war memorials throughout the world.

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"That was the tune we set out to teach Ken so that we could play last weekend and raise the profile of the Poppy Appeal."

But Michael confirmed it was not the first time he had played the bagpipes in Ashby.

Cllr Horn added: "It was in 2014 that this last happened in Ashby.

"After that, the RBL reported that poppy sales had increased as a result of a piper in and around the town.

"When I suggested we play in Ashby town centre, I didn't know he'd already done it."

Michael added: "I was in Market Street with the town's dignitaries but it was never repeated as far as I know.

"I spoke to Dan Harrison at Ashby RBL about doing it again - and it all came together last weekend."