BEAR Scotland celebrated the Forth Road Bridge's 60th anniversary today with a musical tribute.

Bagpipers Martin Lennie, 48, and James Petrie, 41 played from the top of the bridge's 156-metre main tower, serenading the renowned structure.

This comes 60 years after Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the bridge amid grand merriment and traditional music.

The two pipers, employees of BEAR Scotland, performed 'Scotland the Brave', echoing the melodies that were heard during the initial celebrations of one of Scotland’s finest engineering marvels.

 

Mr Lennie, a resident of Queensferry, has worked at the Forth Road Bridge since 1999 and previously played at the bridge's 25th anniversary party in 1989 as part of the Queensferry & District Pipe Band.

Mr Lennie said: "I grew up within sight of the Forth Road Bridge and have worked here more than half my life.

"It’s been brilliant to combine this with my other great passion – playing the pipes.

"I’ve no fear climbing the bridge, but I do still get nervous playing in front of an audience."

Mr Petrie began his tenure at BEAR Scotland in 2021 and is responsible for more than 800 smaller structures in the South East network.

He said: "The chance to pipe from the top of the Forth Road Bridge has been a great honour and privilege for me as an engineer.

"Hopefully people enjoy the footage and it shows how proud BEAR Scotland is to be entrusted with maintaining this famous bridge."

The riveting scene of the duo piping atop the bridge was recorded and is available for public viewing on YouTube.