The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch wishes to congratulate Mr George Ussher, Life Ambassador and former Branch Chairperson who has been awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in HM The King’s Birthday Honours List 2025 for services to The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
George has been associated with the pipe band family for many decades! A member of Ballydonaghy Pipe Band, he is known to many people across Northern Ireland and further afield. George served the Branch in a range of different roles – most recently as Branch Chairperson for 2021-22 and also took on many other roles within his local County Antrim Section throughout the years. He is, however, more widely known to people across pipe bands in the UK, and internationally for his role as President of The RSPBA, a role which he served with excellence from the early part of the 2010s until his retirement in 2024. George was made Honorary President of the Association at the AGM in March 2024 and still continues to be involved with the Association and The Branch to this day.
This is a well deserved recognition of his work and service for over thirty years, keeping our Association and the Northern Ireland Branch at the top of his agenda, celebrating the ongoing successes locally, nationally and internationally. His diligent and continued promotion of pipe band music and traditions, and wider Ulster-Scots culture both in his local community and across Northern Ireland are seldom matched. Congratulations George Ussher MBE!
Below are just some photos of George’s retirement evening in April 2024 together with some of his many highlights throughout the years.
