Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Ed was a BIG part of my life, for at least 20 years, from about 1984 when we met (3 students, 1 teacher and the owner of the restaurant/bar) at the Croft Restaurant on Queen St to learn to play the bagpipes. That same year, we had our debut at my sister's wedding - we only knew 2 or 3 tunes, were terrible but so proud of ourselves.
Over the years we played together in the Scarborough Pipes and Drums, the Shriner's Pipe Band (as a woman I was a guest), The Ontario Massed Legion Pipes and Drums, many summer Scottish Games massed bands and a host of 'pick up' events that someone would volunteer us to do. Ed was generous with his time - particularly if the event had anything to do with the Royal Canadian Legion or a Veteran's event. He even volunteered to join me in a little group playing at a British Veterans nursing home in Peterhead, Scotland when we were there touring with a band.
My very best memory of Ed was one summer, I was in Edinburgh and I was walking up the Royal Mile toward Edinburgh Castle. I could hear a couple of pipers playing on the street in the distance and I thought "That sounds like Ed Forsyth". I walked on to find Ed, pipe box open in front of him, playing on the street in front of a pub with a couple of friends.
The last time I saw Ed he was dressed in his Legion Blues, attending the the Remembrance Day Service at Legion 345 in Nov. 2019. He was so proud - it is a great memory. My condolences to his family and friends - we will all miss him.
