Inbound passenger Douglas Birch received a festive surprise at Glasgow Airport today – dad Lachie playing the bagpipes to welcome him home after they hadn’t seen each other for nearly three years.
Douglas, 25, return home from Chicago via Amsterdam today with his new wife Olivia and was greeted by his dad Lachie, mum Fiona and sister Vivienne.
Due to the transatlantic travel restrictions brought about due the pandemic, the Bearsden family haven’t been together since April 2019.
The family were due to reunite at Douglas and Olivia’s wedding celebrations in Chicago in April 2020, but were unable to as America and the rest of the world went into lockdown.
As well as tears of happiness at the reunion, there was also an element of confusion for Douglas, who had no idea his dad could play the bagpipes.
Lachie, 61, said: “I’m a musician and play the drums, but I was never a piper. Ahead of attending the original wedding celebration in April 2020 my sister-in-law challenged me to learn how to play the bagpipes as a surprise.
“Even though our plans to head over to America didn’t happen, I decided to stick with the pipes anyway as I’d started to learn, although, I didn’t realise how hard it was going to be.
“It was great to not only see Douglas and his new bride again after so long, but it was also brilliant to see the look on his face – he had no idea!”
Douglas, who works as an assistant camera operator and has lived in Chicago for six years, said: “Today couldn’t have been any better. My dad’s never been a fan of the bagpipes, so I never thought in my wildest dreams he’d ever learn to play them. What a surprise!
“It’s great to be home and to see my family again – it’s been too long. It also felt like the perfect Scottish festive morning as we left the airport – it felt like home and I’m looking forward to spending Christmas with my family and Olivia in Scotland.”