A Glutterbluid born and brought up in Peebles, Robert was educated at Kingsland Primary School and Peebles High. At the age of 11 he joined Peebles Ex-Serviceman's Pipe Band where he was taught by the late Pipe-Major Andrew Hall and Pipe-Major Archie Euman.

As A young man he joined the Army where he served fo 10 years mostly in the Pies and Drums of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. In 1971 the Band recorded Amazing Grace topping the pop charts later that year. How many pipers can boast an appearance on Top of the Pops as No.1!!!!!? Suddenly The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards became a household name and as an eighteen year old Robert toured the world. In 1976 he successfully passed his Pipe-Majors course at Edinburgh Castle under John Mclellan, Andrew Pitkeathly and John Allan. He was, incidentally, the first Scots Dragoon to pass the course.

On leaving the forces he joined the family business of Veitch's on Peebles High Street. As a company it has had long associations with the Games as Robert's father Douglas was one of the original forming committee. Since the inception of the Games the Firm has always been a sponsor providing two trophies for prizes and some financial support.

Robert was appointed Pipe-Major of Peebles Ex-Servicemans Pipe Band in 1979 and took the Band from Grade 4 to Grade 2 in three years, winning many major prizes en-route.

Today Robert plays the pipes but as he says "purely for his own pleasure", His other hobbies include sailing and mountaineering and indeed the pipes have often joined him for a tune on top of some Scottish Munro or in a remote mountain bothy.