News
May 31, 2005

Tommy Pearston, 1921-2005

Thomas Pearston died on May 4 at the age of 84.

Tommy Pearston co-founded the College of Piping with Seumas MacNeill in 1944, but because of his relatively quiet and unassuming nature he lived in MacNeill’s shadow. He was instrumental in the development of the Institute of Piping, and set about with MacNeill to create the first organized civilian teaching system since the MacCrimmons. Today’s College of Piping owes as much to Tommy Pearston as it does to Seumas MacNeill.

As a competitor he was known most for his talent in piobaireachd, and he won the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal in 1968.

Tommy Pearston’s funeral took place on May 9 at Linn Crematorium in Glasgow. He is survived by his wife, Betty, his son, Douglas, and daughter, Sheila.

On behalf of the piping and drumming world, our condolences go to Tommy Pearston’s family and many friends.

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