Pipe Major Andrew Venters is a well-know figure on the piping scene in the Inverness area and the Black Isle of Ross-shire. Andrew hails from Edinburgh. His Piping career goes back to 1953, when he joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, which always considered itself to be Edinburgh's own Highland regiment. A piper before his enlistment, he duly joined the Pipes and Drums and rapidly made is name as a serious piper, intent on acquiring knowledge whenever it was to be found. When the Cameron and the Seaforth Highlanders were amalgamated to form the Queen's Own Highlanders, Andrew in due course succeeded John Allan as Pipe Major after having qualified at the Army School of Piping. On his retirement from the Army in 1982, Andrew became piping instructor to the schools on the Black Isle, and recruited and trained the Black Isle Schools Pipe Band. The Band soon became well known in the area for its high standard of piping and drumming, and it's immaculate turnout and drill. He also became Pipe Major to the Queen's Own Regimental Association Pipe Band, composed of former pipers and drummers of the regiment, and led the Band when it beat Retreat on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. Now retired, he lives in Culloden in Inverness.
Every Pipe Band with which Andrew has been associated has been noted for it's repertoire of music which was easy to listen to and pleasant to hear. He has been blessed with the true composer's ability to produce melodies, which have an instant appeal. Pipers will find that his tunes are musical and tuneful, and that all are well within the ability of the average piper to master, reflecting perhaps Andrew's long teaching experience with young people in civilian life, and with training of young pipers in the Queen's Own Highlanders.
