A PAIR of bagpiping brothers have been left blown away by the response to their generous offer of free performances for the elderly – with the pair booked up to 2024.
Joe, 14, and Alexander Townsley, 12, have both been playing the Highland instrument for several years and have opted to share their talent in the form of a variety of free performances for people across Fife.
The musical duo are members of the Black Watch Cadets in Glenrothes, Fife, and launched a joint offer of their services on Tuesday after Joe began playing for free alone in December last year.
Joe – who even played for a former bagpiper whose dying wish was to hear the instrument again – has been joined by his brother in the offer, which has quickly seen their diary filled for the rest of the year.
After Joe’s success with his kind-hearted offer, the generous brothers decided to team up to spread joy to locals, including elderly care home residents and vulnerable people.
The pair initially asked their father, also named Joe, to share a social media appeal to gauge interest in their services but couldn’t have predicted the response they’d receive.
Dad-of-three Joe Snr took to social media on Tuesday to share the pair’s initiative with a request for any interested parties to get in touch.
Joe wrote in the post: “Hi, my two sons have asked me to stick up a post for them.
“They both play the Bagpipes to a very good standard and play with the Black Watch Cadets in Glenrothes.
“They would like to offer up their services free of charge around Fife. They are especially keen on playing for the elderly around care homes, surprising the elderly on their birthdays etc.
“So, if you would like to arrange something for someone special or have them play at a care home etc. please feel free to message me directly and we can sort something out.
“This service is offered up completely free of charge and I will personally take them to wherever they need to go ‘preferably in Fife’.
“Please feel free to share with your friends. Thank you for taking the time to read.”
The post soon began to receive a massive amount of attention with over 750 likes, 270 comments and over 2,100 shares as the boys’ diary was swarmed with dozens of requests.
Angela O’Donnell-Collins wrote: “What lovely considerate young men, they will go far.”
Aneta Kippen said: “Absolutely amazing. Kirkcaldy Ostlers House residents [have] been so happy that the boys [are] coming.”
Tammy Cunningham commented: “Such a kind thing to do. Well done, boys.
“I’m sure you’ll put plenty of smiles on faces.”
Alison Lindsay wrote: “I am an elderly person, not yet in a care home but, these lads make my future look brighter.
“Lots of joy experienced by what you bring tae older folk. Well done, spread the joy of Scotland’s great piping tae everybody.
“Pipe Music from Scotland is played all over the world and is in the hearts of all our older folk as a natural heritage. Piping lads and lassies like you are Scotland’s future.”
Speaking to Joe Snr today about the duo’s kind offer, he said: “The older of the two has been playing the bagpipes since he was 10-years-old.
“He’s now 14 and he has always liked playing for the elderly.
“Last December, he came up with the idea about playing for free around Fife. He mentioned it to me and asked if I would stick up a post on Facebook which I did and the response he got was unbelievable.
“He was literally making people cry with joy, so now his brother has progressed on the bagpipes, the two of them asked me to advertise them online for free with the summer holidays coming up.
“Again, we have been blown away at the response.
“We have booked in so many people for the boys to surprise on birthdays and around care homes, weddings, charity events, in remembrance of people etc.
“The boys play the bagpipes for the Black Watch Cadets in Glenrothes and their motto is ‘inspire to achieve’.
“The boys really take that to heart. They have requests right up to 2024 now!
Alexander are from the Travelling community and to be honest that’s something they always feel they need to hide as Travellers get a bad reputation.
“However, they are proof that regardless of what background you come from you get good and bad in all.
I’m definitely a proud dad.”
