European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sidelights re a air fort master sol. Sam Holton Cape. Robert Hopkins or. Goes through Bis bagpipe routine at Bent Waters enlisted  a-10s to bagpipes Ben Waters Hopkins airs it out by Patrick Mckenna standing 6 feet 7 inches and weighing More than 230 pounds Robert Hopkins or. Looks like a Brawny he Man. That a because he is. And when Hopkins a . Air Force Captain assigned to the 81st equipment maintenance so at Raf Ben Waters England finishes a grueling 12-hour Day supervising the Job of repairing a-10 aircraft he likes nothing better than going Home and putting on a skirt. Make that a Kilt. While most teen age boys were dreaming of being pop stars Hopkins at 16, began learning to play bagpipes. A after hearing the Buffalo caledonian pipe and drum band at a conceit in Buffalo n. Y., i was hooked a said the 29-year old Hopkins. A a there a just a magic about the instruments a Friend of the family who played in the caledonian Bank offered to give the lad lessons. He eagerly accepted and began learning How to play. While in College at the Citadel the military College of South Carolina he continued learning taking lessons from retired chief master sgt Sandy Jones who was the air forces pipe major. Hopkins later joined the schools pipe band and played at Many important events including the 1983 inauguration of the state governor. At the inauguration the band shared a dressing room with trumpeter dizzy Gillespie. Since leaving the Citadel and gaining his air Force commission in 1984, Hopkins has gone Solo. A nowadays i mainly play at official dinners wedding and funerals a he said. Quot i enjoy the one on one Contact just seeing the expression on Peoples faces. Not Many americans have seen somebody play bagpipes in  his repertoire includes about 200 songs. The Captain does no to have a favorite but his two most requested tunes Are Scotland the Brave and amazing Grace. Hopkins reads music and then memorizes it since there a no place for a music stand on a set of pipes. He finds it easy committing songs to memory but if he Hasni to played a song for a White hell go Back Over the Sheet music before playing it in Public. What is difficult is keeping up his endurance. A Aback at the Citadel i could play for up to two hours. But now in a Lucky if i can play for 45 minutes a he said. Quot playing the pipes requires you to build up your lung capacity. A i think the bagpipes have a wonderful sound especially from a distance. Some people like my wife and two daughters think its a Little loud. When i play at Home i close All the  his favorite place to a Crank them up is in Large stairwells because of the acoustics. A you can usually get a great Echo a he said. A a it a pretty  that Eer iness is what frightened Many German soldiers during world War i. The scots guards played the pipes in the trenches because traditionally that is How their ancestors called the clan to Battle. Hopkins does have scottish blood in his veins. His Mother belongs to the Anderson clan. She still has relatives living in Kirkcaldy and Buckhaven on the East coast of Scotland. The Anderson tartan which he wears when performing in Public is Blue and Green with a wee bit of red. To get decked out in Highland garb is expensive. Hopkins Kilt which he bought in the United states Cost him $220. If he had bought it in Scotland he would be paid More than $700. No Story about a pipe player would be Complete without asking the age old question what does a scotsman Wear under his Kilt unfortunately Hopkins would Only say a my boots and  staff sgt. Patrick Mckenna works in the 81 St tac fighter Wing Public affairs office at Raf Ben Waters  8 a sunday april 5. 1992 a a