David Urquhart, formerly of Gordon & MacPhail, has been appointed Honorary Life President of Piping At Forres in honour of his work over the last 3 years as Marketing and Sponsorship Director.
Due to ongoing ill health, David resigned after this year’s competition in June, from his voluntary role as Director Marketing, Media and Sponsorship with Forres Events Ltd which runs Piping At Forres. This new award, unanimously voted by the Board, recognises David’s commitment to the event and his role in bringing in many thousands of pounds of sponsorship and funding necessary to run the event.
David Morgan has taken over David’s role responsible for Marketing, Media and Sponsorship. David moved to Forres 3 years ago from Glasgow where he worked for over 40 years in sales and marketing in the wine and spirit industry.
Over 100 pipe bands come to Grant Park in Forres at the end of June to compete in the European Pipe Band Championships, sponsored by Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The event, first held in 2013 attracts a crowd of around 18,000 who come to watch the competition, take part in the World Tattie Scone Championship also held at the event or tour the trade and craft stalls at the event or just soak up the atmosphere.
David, who was awarded the Highlands and Islands Tourism Ambassador Award in 2014 for his work within the Community to support tourism has advanced prostate cancer and secondary cancer. Given the impact of this on his health and family, David reluctantly took the decision to resign from Piping At Forres this summer.
Ian Widdowson, Chairman of Forres Events Ltd said, “David has been an enormous support over the years that he has been on the Board. As well as key marketing and sponsorship skills, he has abundant enthusiasm, drive and determination, all important ingredients in making Piping At Forres the success it is. In recognition of his support, we unanimously voted to award him Life President.”
David Urquhart said, “I am delighted to receive this wonderful Honour from the Board. It means a lot to me personally to have my hard work recognised in this way but truly my reward is in the success of Piping At Forres itself and in seeing the many happy faces at the event each year. I will still be keeping an eye on events and helping out and supporting where I can in sponsorship and marketing.”
David was also the recipient of a DRAM Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and was Chairman of the Elgin Bid from 2009. Until he retired he was a non-Executive Director of Gordon & MacPhail, the Elgin-based whisky, wine and spirits specialist and owner of Speyside’s smallest working distillery, Benromach, in Forres. Until 2012, David was Joint Managing Director and was responsible for sales, marketing, logistics, facilities and the retail side of the business in this family-owned firm that bottles whiskies from throughout Scotland, selling to over 50 markets worldwide.