In 1950 Robert Hardie, John Weatherston and Joe Henderson formed the pipe making business R.G. Hardie & Co in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, Scotland. Robert Gavin Hardie, from Lennoxtown near Glasgow, took lessons from Robert Reid and from him learned the art of highland bagpipe making. As well as being the principal wood turner at the Piobmohr factory, Hardie won the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 1947 and the Open Piobaireachd in 1952. As Pipe Major of Muirhead & Sons Pipe band, he won five World Pipe Band Championships from 1965 to 1969.
Weatherston and Hardie worked together for five years previous to starting the business in 1950. John Carlton Weatherston, from Glasgow, was Pipe Major of the 277 Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders TA and with them won the World Pipe Band Championships in 1962. He was awarded the MBE and the BEM. During the 1970’s he was the Pipe Major of the Red Hackle Pipes & Drums, a highly successful band winning numerous major championships and made famous for their innovative style of playing.
In 1966, R.G. Hardie & Co was awarded the Royal Warrant of Her Majesty the Queen for bagpipe manufacturing.
In 1972, R.G. Hardie & Co. Ltd and Peter Henderson Ltd merged.
Peter Henderson was born on 14 November 1851 at Inverkeithing, Fife and his company, Peter Henderson Limited, founded in 1868. Henderson was Pipe Major of the Glasgow Volunteers and won the marches at the Northern Meeting, 1884. He also published music, some of which was his own, such as the Henderson’s Collection 1888.
Today R.G. Hardie & Co. is based in Maryhill in the heart of Glasgow and lead by Alastair Dunn, double Gold Medallist and Pipe Sergeant of eight time World Champions, the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band. He has worked with Duncan Campbell, a craftsman with R.G. Hardie & Co since 1962, to develop the current range of bagpipes and chanters offered today. The company enjoys a steady rate of growth, shipping bagpipes all over the world to places such as North America, Australia, Europe, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, India and Brazil.
