– Liam Renton, Elite Drum Major
The current 2025 United Kingdom Champion and a three time British Champion. Born and raised in Campbeltown, Scotland. Liam has won multiple Major Championship titles and has represented The Force at several local events and was part of our team for the 2025 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo (RNSIT).
Find out more about Liam via the questions and answers below:
Question #1
Question: How long have you been a Drum Major for?
Answer: I have been a Drum Major for over 20 years and competed at my first even competition in 2003 at Cowal.
Question #2
Question: What are your Drum Major achievements to date?
Answer: I am 3x times British Champion, 2x times European, 2x times Scottish, 1x time UK Champion, 1x time Cowal Champion and 1x time Belgian Champion.
Question #3
Question: Favourite memory on/off the park?
Answer:
On the Park: Winning my first adult Major championship at the Europeans in Forres.
Inveraray and District won their first ever Grade 1 Major that day too. The celebrations were wild!
Off the Park: I have always felt extremely lucky to have been able to travel the world and have the opportunity to meet new people from all across the world. It always amazes me where a mace and a kilt can take you!
Question #4
Question: What inspires you most?
Answer: My wee Grandma who passed away a few years ago now. She always loved my brother and I marching up and down Campbeltown Main Street. My aim is to put on a show and entertain and if I can put a smile, just like hers on someone’s face in the crowd, I know I’m doing my job! That’s what keeps me doing it after all these years!
Question #5
Question: What does your hobby do for you?
Answer: Performing in front of an audience be it tens, hundreds or thousands is the best buzz you can get! I enjoy it and it gives me a release from the stresses of normal life. The art has given me lifelong friendships and allowed me to travel to some amazing destinations. I will say though, it’s not a hobby, it’s a lifestyle!
Question #6
Question: Words of inspiration you have never forgotten? If you have forgotten, some words of your own?
Answer: My first teacher Ian Campbell once said, “If you drop it, pick it up and throw it even higher because the crowd doesn’t come to see you catch it!”
Question #7
Question: Favourite International gig that you have been to and performed?
Answer: A trip to the US in 2016 with Inveraray and District. It incorporated the Virginia Tattoo, a trip to New York and then a Drum Major Workshop to finish off the tour. From travelling with the band and performing in a cool arena, to seeing the sights in the big apple and then meeting up and working with the Worldwide Drum Major Family, it doesn’t get much better than that!
If only it could be your job every day!
Question #8
Question: Where would you like to perform?
Answer: Competing wise I’d love to make it over to Australia and New Zealand one day.
On Stage, it has to be Edinburgh Tattoo, that has to be top of the bucket list!