A GLASGOW piper is quitting the rat race to busk across America.
Click here to view bagpipe busker
A GLASGOW piper is quitting the rat race to busk across America.
Former marketing manager Rob Calder is embarking on a month-long tour of the US with only his bagpipes and backpack for company.
Rob, 32, who studied at Glasgow University and worked for brewers Scottish & Newcastle, has ditched pen-pushing for the bagpipes to promote the World Pipe Band Championships and Piping Live! which take place in Glasgow in August.
To make sure he grabs the world's attention he will be busking in New York today with the performance being recorded and transmitted online.
Rob said: "My idea for all of this began three months ago.
"My company was being taken over and I had the chance of redundancy so I thought why not take it and grab the chance to do one more really fun thing?' "I had worked in America years ago and loved the place. So I decided to do this."
After New York, next stop is Philadelphia then Washington DC; Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Amarillo, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and finally San Francisco.
And pupils of Giffnock Primary School in Eastwood near Glasgow are following him along the way in an internet-linked project.
His sister Ellie lives in Giffnock and his six-year-old niece Rosie Steele attends the school.
Rob said: "It's nice that they have decided to do this but I don't think Rosie reckons I'm very good!
"She told me that I'm not as good as the Red Hot Chilli Pipers!"
Rosie, said: "I am really excited and proud about my uncle Rob going over to America.
" I love him playing the pipes but I tell him when it doesn't sound right!"
Rosie's classmate Abdul Samad Wajid is looking forward to seeing the pictures of Rob being beamed back to Scotland during the piper's tour of the US.
The youngster said: "I like the sound of bagpipes and I'm looking forward to our project."
Principal Teacher Alasdair McDonald, added: "This is a great opportunity to expand the children's knowledge of the world, use their information, communication and technology skills and gain a better understanding of their own country."
VisitScotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau are supporting Rob on his adventure.
But he will also be relying on the goodwill of locals and travelling from place to place on Greyhound buses and staying with friends or people he meets along the way.
Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau said: "Supporting Rob is a brilliant way to get this message about the World Pipe Band Championships and Piping Live events across in the USA, which is our biggest overseas market."
