A TOP Scottish trad band who had a set of century-old bagpipes stolen while on tour in Australia have hailed the “incredible” news that the instrument has been found in an alley.
Skerryvore, who have grown into one of Scotland’s most popular trad bands after being founded in 2005 in Tiree, were on tour in Melbourne when a car they were using was broken into.
The group shared an image of a shattered car window on Instagram, saying that a 1920s Ebony Lawrie bagpipes set was just one of several items stolen. An electric guitar, laptop, and camera were also taken.
Skerryvore said it had been "an absolutely revolting end to what has been an incredible tour of Australia!".
However, in a new post on Thursday morning, the band announced that the set of bagpipes had been found – though other items remain missing.
“This is just incredible… the bagpipes have been found!” Skerryvore wrote in a new Instagram post.
“Spotted in an alley by 3AW Melbourne listener and good Samaritan Tony who contacted the show… who contacted us… and now in the safe hands of Willy Hutton from Claymore.”
They went on: “[Lead singer Alec Dalglish’s] guitar is sadly still very much at large… but we are ever more confident of it being found thanks to the truly incredible support from the people of Melbourne and beyond, local radio stations, newspapers, businesses and bands all helping out and people literally walking the streets and visiting pawn shops out of the kindness of their hearts.”
“This really does help to restore faith in humanity,” they wrote, adding a heart and a thankful emoji.
Skerryvore shared an image of bagpiper Scott Wood, whose name was on the kit found in the alley, as well as one of the still-missing guitar.
The news has been welcomed by other social media users, with one writing: “The average crook would not know what to do with pipes and couldn't unload them easily. Good luck you get more back!”
“Fantastic!!!” another added.
