North Vancouver boy discovers love for bagpipes after watching Pink Pied Piper play

Little Frankie Whelan mayonly be four years old, but he already knows his favourite day of the week is Friday.

That's because he gets to see his hero Frank Wimberley, also known as the Pink Pied Piper, play the bagpipes while walking down Lonsdale Avenuein North Vancouver around five in the evening.

"When Friday happens, Frank comes, and I just really want to play with him so that's why I actlike him," said Frankie.

Frankie's parents, Gerard and Donna, said their son started to watch the Pink Pied Piper from their home last September. Then he askedhis parents to go outside and join in, using a hockey stick to pretend to play along.

WATCH | Frankie plays the bagpipes with the Pink Pied Piper:

Young boy discovers love for bagpipes

3 years ago

Duration 1:53

Little Frankie Whelan's passion for the bagpipes first started when he saw the Pink Pied Piper playing the instrument in North Vancouver's Lonsdale neighbourhood.

Now, little Frankie marches down the street playing alongside his hero, with a set of his own bagpipes and a traditional Scottish outfit that he got for Christmas.

"Frankie's a funny one. When he gets into things, he goes 100 per cent," said his mom, Donna.

The Pink Pied Piper

Wimberleystarted to play the bagpipes outside as part of the 7 p.m.cheer for health-care workers that are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. His route used to be closer to Lions Gate Hospital but aswinter came, he decided to play the pipesearlier in the evening, every Friday, in Lower Lonsdale to bring the community together.

He said it'sfantastic that little Frankie wants to learn how to play thembut also has a small warningfor the young boy.

"I'm really impressed that he's taken it on and he's loving it. I mean, Frankie will soon learn that people will pay him to stop playing."