PP Video Archive/ John MacDonald Recording/RSPS pic/Mod Reminder

New PP Video Archive page launched today with a slideshow from the Argyllshire Gathering. It has pictures from before WW2 right up to the present day. 

The picture above is included. It is from the games at Oban in 1950, and the pipers left to right are: John Finlay, Charlie Scott, Willie Connell, Donald MacLean (Lewis), a shy looking John Burgess, George Stoddart, J O’Grady and R Henderson. John D. had little to be coy about. He had won the Gold Medal the previous day. (He was to go on to do the double at Inverness a few weeks later.) Notice the predominance of the Balmoral bonnet and all the chanters with soles.


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The audio archive has an important addition today with a recording of John MacDonald, Inverness, playing part of the Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon. It’s only the ground and first variation singling but it will be of interest to all students of ceol mor. The archive has music from Willie Ross, Donald MacPherson, Robert Reid and Jimmy McIntosh with some select stuff waiting in the wings.


Re yesterday’s letter on the CNE in Toronto, the band archive has a couple of recordings of Muirhead & Sons Pipe Band made whilst at the Intercontinental Pipe Band Championships in the 70s.


RSPSStill on archives, here’s a pic from the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society competition. We are not sure of the date but believe it must be circa 1998 but may be out by a few years either way. L – R: Walter Drysdale (judge), Alan Forbes, ?, Colin MacNeill, Bill Fraser, ?, Donald  Martin, ?, Andrew Frater, Ronald Morrison (judge). Grateful for missing names.


Check later for the draw for the Worlds being conducted from 11am today at RSPBA HQ in Washington Street.


Don’t forget, entries for the Mod close this Friday. Click on the ad to get your entry form. The National Mod 2015 is being held in Oban.


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