World-class piper James Banks has blown into Bermuda to help St. Andrew's Day go with a swing.

Ex-Scots Guards Pipe Major Banks -- who taught rock star Phil Collins to play the bagpipes for a world tour -- is on the Island as a guest of international firm Jardine Mathieson.

The company, now based in Bermuda, but founded in Hong Kong last century by two Scotsmen, will hold their annual reception to honour Scotland's patron saint at its Reid Street offices today.

And yesterday Pipe Major Banks, on his third visit to Bermuda, said: "It's nice to see the tradition come here as well and that Jardine Mathieson have brought it with them.'' Pipe Major Banks -- whose globe-trotting career both inside and outside the Army has taken him everywhere from Moscow to Thailand -- said Mr. Collins took ten or 12 lessons with him so he could play Amazing Grace on the pipes to end his concerts.

The former Guardsman has also played with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and top-rated orchestras in Norway and Italy.

And he holds a Royal Warrant as one of the Buckingham Palace pipers when his Regiment was stationed in London.

Jardine Mathieson chief Harry Wilken said: "We guard our traditions jealously. It also allows us to entertain the usual international gathering, our business colleagues and other people.''