LANCE CORPORAL lan King's first contact with the Pipes was not in some picturesque glen in Scotland but on a playing field in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Being of Scottish descent, his family attended the annual Gathering of the Clans there, which was where he first acquired his love for the sound of the pipes. The chance to learn to play the instrument came much later.

When lan was about 12 years old he moved to Bognor Regis, Sussex. Though this is scarcely the centre of the Piping world, attendance at the local grammar school (where incidentally, he showed no interest at all in music) enabled him to collect the necessary "O" and "A" levels, to win a place at the University of St Andrews, studying Physics.

Once there, it did not take him long to find that the cheapest way of learning the pipes was actually to get paid for it, by joining the Tayforth University OTC. This placed him under the tutelage of Pipe Major Bert Barron, BEM, who had him playing with the small OTC band after a year. Meanwhile changing course from Physics to Astronomy, lan was appointed first Junior Under Officer and then, in his final year, Senior Under Officer. He enjoyed a well-run cadets mess and, to ensure this, was twice appointed PMC. Apart from the pipes he studied for, and passed, his Certificate of Military Training exam and became interested in rifle shooting, both at OTC and in the University Rifle Club. He was a member of the latter's A team in his Honours years, culminating in the award of an Athletic Blue for that sport.

He graduated in 1973 with Second Class honours, but convinced both a TA commissioning board and an RCB that he would probably make a better bank manager than a commissioned officer. Wishing to keep up his piping, he reverted to Private and transferred to HQ Coy, 1/51 Highland Volunteers in 1974.

After some months of driving bakers' vans and selling washing machines, lan was taken on by Metal Box Limited as a trainee in one of their London factories. He popped up like a bad penny, one night at "59", and annoyed everyone by wearing his red hackle on "G" Company drill nights. Eventually the hackle was replaced by the more subdued Hodden Grey patch and soon fan was playing with the Regimental Pipes and Drums and waking Jocks up on Company exercises with "Johnny Cope". At the same time a beard sprouted - a successor to the one ordered to be shaved off in his OTC days. His OTC skills with radio and rifle were put to good use, but eventually he laid down his handset and SLR when the chance arose to see more of Metal Box operations from their Market Research Department at Reading. The responsibilities of owning a house and the distance involved meant less time with the TA, but a growing proportion with the Pipes and Drums. At the same time he joined the Reading Scottish Pipe Band, of which he is now Pipe Sergeant.

His work involves him in some travel and meetings with marketing personnel in other companies. He investigates some of the many facets of Metal Box's business from the very interesting beer cans, to the not so interesting lavatory cleaner bottles, forecasting the importance and nature of these markets over the next few years. Some say that his degree comes in useful here, but then most people seem to confuse astronomy with astrology.

He lives in a terraced house in the centre of Reading, sharing it with a cat named Bat. Included among his hobbies are growing raspberries, collecting brewery ties and Argentine stamps and running for the 0148 train to Reading after late night Officers' Mess functions.

His one ambition in the TA, to get his TEM while still a private soldier was foiled on April 13 this year, since when he has been busy sewing stripes on to his uniform. However he draws some comfort from handing over the title of "longest serving private in "G" Company to another member of the band (Drummer Tommy Muir).