We are heartbroken at the loss of my dad Nigel Alakija. He had a long wonderful life and was happy.

OBITUARY FOR NIGEL ALAKIJA

Nigel Alakija passed away suddenly on August 9, 2024 in the arms of his beloved wife Gladys in their home in Penticton. They had just come home from a lovely dinner together, and he was happy.

Nigel Alakija was born in Glasgow, Scotland October 14, 1938, to Jessie Caisley and Afolabi Alakija.

His younger years were turbulent due the Second World War and racial discrimination prevalent at the time. He lived with his mother until he was 4 years old, and then he was sent to a strict and religious foster home in Inverness, Scotland. In school, he was an excellent student, and he won many awards for academic and athletic achievements. His love of bagpipes started young when he learned them in the Boy Scouts. He had his first job at age 13 and prided himself on his hard work and independence at an early age. He developed a strong a strong moral compass at a young age.

As a young man, he worked in Glasgow where he walked into the School of Piping and despite discouragement from others, he proved them wrong and became a master of the Great Highland Bagpipe. He had many mentors, but Donald MacLeod stands out as his favorite, and Nigel emulated his style. Many years of his life were dedicated to the art of playing the bagpipes, and more so to the people who made up the bagpipe community. He was a superb bagpipe player, Pipe Major of many Pipe Bands in Dauphin and Penticton, judge at Bagpipe competitions, and most importantly, he was a legendary Bagpipe teacher. He taught hundreds of people how to play bagpipes, and he taught them to be accountable and honest people whether they were old or young. His students became his friends, and he stayed in touch with most of his students throughout his life. He provided them mentorship and many hours of storytelling and laughter. Students knew Nigel would give them honest feedback not only about their music, but also about life.

He met his wife, Gladys at a dance, and for the next 65 years they were known as “NigelandGladys” or “GladysandNigel”. They raised three children. Pauline, Cameron and Roy were given much attention and love because Nigel always put children first. He was known for his magical relationships with children because he would spend the time to tell stories, play games, and make children laugh with his funny faces. He had a way of making adults and children feel safe and important in his presence. Nigel and his family spent most weekends for many years either at their cabin or travelling to bagpipe competitions. His wife Gladys loved and supported him in everything he did, and she looked after him through many health challenges.

Nigel always tried hard to excel at anything he did. He worked for the telephone company his whole life (Glasgow, Dauphin and Penticton), and made many life-long friends at work. He learned how to play golf in Manitoba where he won many tournament trophies. He built the family cabin from trees cut down by himself. He collected coins and stamps and spent many hours organizing and documenting his collections. He excelled at Scotch whiskey tasting. He was known for always giving honest feedback while maintaining respect and dignity for the person getting the feedback. If you were a friend of Nigel’s, you were a lucky person because he would do anything for you. He prided himself at finding the best people and in finding the best in people. He always had a twinkle in his eyes and story to tell.

He is survived by his wife Gladys, his daughter Pauline Alakija (John Greer), his son Cameron Alakija (Wenlei Lian), his son Roy Alakija (Michele Goodison), his grandson Ryan, his brother Phil Hawkins (Rena), his cousin Dele Alakija (Anne), and his cousin Jide Alakija (Ayoola). He also had many extended relatives around the world. His family are heartbroken but are comforted by the knowledge that he had a great and long life with many moments of adventure, happiness, love, music, and celebration.

Nigel’s funeral service will be held at the Everden Rust Funeral Chapel, 1130 Carmi Ave, in Penticton on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 1:00 pm. A light meal will be served.

Condolences and tributes can be sent to the family at www.everdenrust.com

MEMORIES OF NIGEL ALAKIJA, from BCPA life members Graham Davidson, Angus MacPherson & Hal Senyk

I first met Nigel around 1967 at the Piping School in Nelson under the direction of PM Donald MacLeod. Nigel was one of the instructors. He did a ton of teaching over the years. He would drive his students down from Penticton so they could compete at the mini gatherings use to be 4 over the winter months. Not to mention all the times to the Annual Gathering and the outdoor games. He was very encouraging to all who piped whether they were his students or not. Very kind gentleman. I consider Nigel a very good friend. He was very kind to Trevor and Maclain. I am going to his service this weekend. I will miss him! submitted by Graham Davidson

My clearest memories of Nigel were when he would pack up his van and make the trek from Penticton down to the mini-gatherings in Vancouver.  (They may even have been called the bi-monthlies back then and they may have been held in the old Scottish Auditorium too.)

Of course he didn’t just come down by himself. He and Gladys brought the whole entourage – which would include their own children – Pauline, Roy and Cameron – as well as the Flack sisters, the Mairs, Shelley Much, and more.  They were all excellent pipers, as one would expect with Nigel as their teacher. He didn’t just come for the mini- gatherings, but the Annual Gathering, many of our local summer Games and other piping events too. He was very involved himself, as the Pipe Major of the Penticton pipe band and could be spotted as a regular, judging on the piping circuit.

I remember watching the World Cup final in his house –I believe it was 1982. It was also the resurgence of the Penticton Highland Games and may have been when Innes Tartan from New Zealand were in attendance.  I don’t know if Nigel’s name appeared as an organizer of the event, but he most certainly played a huge part along with Tommy Mair.

As an aside, an uncle of mine from Scotland came out for a visit in the early ‘80’s. He was a work colleague of Nigel’s at The Post Office Telephones in Glasgow.  My parents drove my uncle and aunt up to Penticton for a little reunion with Nigel and Gladys. They would have made a fine pair in the lunchroom – an Alakija and a Panayotou!

In later years, we would see each other at the Penticton Games and when he would come down to the Lower Mainland.  We would also chat on the phone – not as often as I’d have liked (my fault, not his). He had a full set of BC Pipers’ Newsletters he wanted to give me. I had a full set as did Bill Elder, also a former editor. I’m not sure what he ended up doing with them.

He was a kind, gentle man who always had a smile for you and barely spoke a sentence without a laugh at the end of it. He will be missed. submitted by Angus MacPherson

I first encountered Nigel in the early 70’s.  He had moved to Penticton from Dauphin, where he had been teaching piping and running a band for several years.

It didn’t take long before Nigel’s energy and experience resulted in a thriving piping and band program in Penticton.  My first impression of Nigel was that he was a friend to everyone he met, with the energy of a young boy, a happy smile and wicked laugh.  My second impression was his devotion to his family — and his piping.

He was an exacting teacher, having received good instruction in his formative years, and later with Donald McLeod.  It was most evident from the students he would bring to the Coast from time to time, often to the Annual gathering.  All his students stood out from the crowd, with strong fundamentals, well tuned pipes and always playing with a happy sense of music.

An occasional dram often featured the times I was able to spend with Nigel, either around the games or visiting his home in Penticton.  It was a treat to discuss music with him.  I had the pleasure of playing in front of Nigel occasionally when he was adjudicating, and his observations were very astute.

We remained good friends over the years, Nigel even once offering his cabin for a getaway. 

Nigel was an iconic figure in the interior, and he left a huge imprint on the Penticton piping scene.  His passing is a great loss. submitted by Hal Senyk

Sending our deepest condolences to all family, friends, and those that were impacted by the life of Nigel Alakija, on behalf of the B.C. Pipers’ Association.