Former international bagpiper opens up on stroke struggles for Christmas campaign

An Inverness man has opened up about his struggles since having a stroke in November 2022 to raise awareness of the condition and support the Stroke Association’s Christmas fundraising appeal.

Stuart Cassells, 46, found fame as the founding member of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. On 26^th November 2022, he had a stroke at his son’s second birthday party and has had to come to terms with a genetic condition that predisposes him to both stroke and dementia.

At the time, doctors determined that Stuart’s stroke was caused by a bicuspid heart valve, which means his heart only had two flaps rather than three, and a build-up of plaque broke off and caused the clot in his brain.

As well as having stroke treatment including thrombolysis to dissolve the clot, at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, Stuart had open heart surgery to correct the faulty valve.

Initially, his speech was badly affected – a common stroke impact called aphasia, affecting one in three stroke survivors. But he worked hard to regain powers that had served him well as both the former Red Hot Chilli Pipers frontman and then as Global Head of Private Client Management for The Macallan premium whisky.

As Stuart approaches his fourth post-stroke Christmas, he is supporting the Stroke Association’s Christmas campaign. The charity recently surveyed 1,000 stroke survivors to find that two thirds (66%) are frustrated at not being able to do things at Christmas that they could before they had a stroke, including wrapping presents and cooking Christmas dinner¹.

The charity has also produced a moving film featuring fellow Scot, Brian Cox, Alison Steadman, Nadia Sawalha and others, which shows some of those struggles across a range of ages, from young children to grandparents, ending with an appeal to give the gift of stroke support at Christmas – by donating, fundraising or volunteering at stroke.org.uk/stillchristmas.

Stuart can relate to common frustrations many stroke survivors feel at Christmas, but reflects on ongoing more hidden effects of stroke, specifically the psychological and emotional impact.

He said: “The shock and trauma of having a stroke at 43 was devastating to me and my family. I thought strokes only happened to older people, but I was proved wrong.

“I had never previously had a day off sick but I found myself in hospital for months contemplating what I could do to make sure I never had another stroke.”

Stuart threw himself into a diet and fitness regime that saw him shed extra weight he’d been carrying as a result of jobs that took him around the world, socialising into the early hours.

He adds: “The stroke gave me a shocking jolt and I spent the next year focusing on my health and wellbeing, eating healthy meals and hitting 12,000 steps a day with the help of a personal trainer.

“Since then, it has been more of a psychological and emotional rollercoaster. This year, I discovered that I have a hereditary genetic condition called CADASIL that makes me more likely to have further strokes and prone to dementia.

“That’s a different kind of shock where you are considering an uncertain future, no matter how hard you try to avoid it.”

This June, Stuart took redundancy from the Edrington Group and set up a consultancy to promote Scotland’s luxury hospitality and cultural experiences.

As he approaches this Christmas, he feels he has a lot to be thankful for – not least his wife and two sons, aged eleven and five. He is also on a mission to raise awareness of stroke and raise funds for the Stroke Association.

He concludes: “I’ve learned so much about stroke since having mine and firmly believe that knowledge is power. There are so many ways you can reduce your risk of stroke, from stopping smoking and eating healthier to exercising more. Studies have shown that even walking a mile a day can dramatically improve your health.

“And for those who have had a stroke, the Stroke Association is invaluable. The charity’s website has as a whole host of information and resources, including on communication difficulties and ways to find peer support groups.”

The Stroke Association is Scotland’s leading stroke-specific charity providing lifelong support to stroke survivors of all ages and their families. It raises awareness of stroke, funds vital scientific research, and campaigns to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke.

John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said:

“A stroke can have physical and psychological impacts, as well as emotional ones, with survivors facing a long journey to relearn lost skills and adapt to new circumstances. But, with strength, determination and the right support, recovery is possible. That’s why we’ve created our powerful new film, to highlight the devastation stroke can cause, and to remind people we are here for them.”

Anyone affected by stroke can visit www.stroke.org.uk/scotland or call our dedicated Stroke Support Helpline on 0303 3033 100 for information, guidance or a chat when times are tough. The Helpline is open 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday and 10am–1pm on Saturdays. It will be operating different hours over the Christmas and New Year period with details at www.stroke.org.uk/scotland

ENDS

1. About the survey

An online survey was conducted by Atomik Research among 1,001 respondents from across the UK, all were stroke survivors. The research fieldwork took place on 7th October – 13th October 2025.

Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides to MRS code.