Quote Originally Posted by kilted redleg View Post
John Ban Mackenzie was the rock star of his day! Legend has it that he was 6'4" in height a mountain of a man having worked in physically challenging jobs before taking up piping. He was said to have piercing blue eyes and flowing blonde hair. He won every contest he competed in. Mackenzie's one drawback was his ego was as big as he was. A story attached to this is when young Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert went to Scotland for the first time they fell in love with the people and country. In her diary Victoria records "all the landowners have a personal bagpiper, I love the sound of the pipes; I must get one for myself. She and Albert are invited to the Marquess castle for dinner. After a sumptuous meal the Marquess invites them into the "great room" for some entertainment. In walks John Ban who proceeds to play for about an hour so enthralled was her majesty that she asks to meet the piper. She tries to lure him away from his current employer but he refuses; she tries two times with an offer of higher pay with room and board still he refuses. Finally being an astute student of human nature and ever the lady [as the current occupant of the throne is], she asks where can she ever find a piper as good looking and can play as well as he does. Mackenzie reportedly looked down at the 5'2" Queen and remarked "Madame on those two accounts alone you will fail miserably."
You can see John Ban's pipes at the piper's persuasion here: http://www.piperspersuasion.com/061-...piping-museum/
I wonder how accurate some of the handed down lore is. His eyes may have been as blue as a clear sky, but every photograph of the man, while young enough not to be grey, show a man with very dark hair.

The story however is a great one. Folks do love a humbling "money can't buy everything" story.

Frank