- The Argyllshire Gathering Open Competition for Piobaireachd, 1955, won by MacPherson in 1955, 1956, 1962 and retained as winning out right, a twin handled trophy and cover, engraved.
- The Oban Times Piobaireachd Trophy, won 1946, twin handled vase and cover, engraved. John MacDonald Trophy.
- The Scotway Piobaire Os Cionn Chaich, 1984, a silver quaich of traditional form, engraved.
- Argyllshire Gathering Trophy presented by John Graham Campbell of Shirvan, in Piobaireachd, won 1954, of open twin handled octagonal form, pedestal foot.
- The Flora MacDonald Award, won 1965, cased, by Garrard in 14ct gold, tartan ribbon.
- The Champion Medal of The Highland Society of London, two medals, 1948 (Oban) and 1954 Northern Meeting), both 1st Piobaireachd, 9ct gold, blue cloth ribbon and bar clasp.
- The Eagle Pipers Society, 1971, yellow ribbon, bar clasp pin.
- Eagle Piper’s Society Macrae medal, 1974, silver, purple ribbon, silver bar clasp.
- Northern Meeting ‘gold’ clasps a unique group of eight, 1st prize Piobaireachd, silver gilt, engraved.
- Rothiemurchus Silver Medal, won 1965, others undated, silver, engraved, three with pin bar clasps.
- The Cowal gold medal, a unique group of six 1938, 9ct gold and engraved, the others silver gilt and enamel.
- Northern Meeting, 1960, M S and Reel; 1962, M S and reel; 1964, M S and Reel; 1965, M S and Reel; 1974 M S and Reel; 1977; Oban, 1951, Marches open; 1952, open Strathspey and Reel; all silver and London 1965, M S and Reel in bronze.
- Oban Times gold medal, 1956, 1st Piobaireachd, 9ct gold, blue ribbon.
- Eagle Pipers Society pendant silver medal.
- Scottish Pipers Association 1st Piobaireachd, P. Henderson silver medal.
- Shoulder Brooch, 1980, ‘Piper above All Others’ of circular form, Celtic bosses, engraved.
- Chatsworth and Wellington Country fairs;1985 x 3, 1986 x 2, white and gilt metal.
- The Macrae Challenge Trophy won 1980, plated three handled form, engraved.
- The Cardhu London Piping Championship Trophy, 1984, modelled as a standing piper, wood plinth.
The picture above shows one of the six Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Silver Stars won by Donald along with one of his nine Clasps, one of his Gold Medals and a trophy presented to him by the Argyllshire Gathering.
The auctioneers’ blurb reads: ‘Described as ‘the most successful competitive piper in history’, Donald MacPherson’s long career saw him winning the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal for Piobaireachd in his first outing at the Argyllshire Gathering in 1948 when aged only 25. Remarkably, the same afternoon, he followed that success by winning the senior Open Piobaireachd event.
‘Forty-two years later, and with over 30 awards at the major gatherings in Oban and Inverness, Donald MacPherson retired from competition. Typically his final bow came with his 15th win – a record – in the same senior event he had first captured in 1948.
‘At the Northern Meeting in Inverness in 1954 he won both the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal for Piobaireachd and the Gold Medal and Clasp (for former winners of the medal). He subsequently won the Clasp on a further eight other occasions. ‘It is nice to win anywhere’, he once said, ‘but win at Oban and Inverness and you go into the history books.’
‘His career as an engineer obliged him to live much of his life outwith his homeland, and his playing in the capital won him the Scottish Piping Society of London’s coveted Bratach Gorm (Blue Banner) on three occasions. Brought up in Glasgow, MacPherson was a young piper with the Glasgow Shepherds Pipe Band but was taught solely by his father, Iain, himself taught by the celebrated Pipe Major John MacDougall Gillies.’
Donald MacPherson died in April 2012. His world-renowned bagpipe was auctioned two years ago and raised a five figure sum. Read more about the maestro in our Famous Pipers column.
Listen to his playing in our PP Audio Archive.
Roseneath Games Piping Convenor Colina Helen Campbell has sent this: Please find attached the draw and judges for Sunday 18.10.15 at Hermitage Academy, Cardross Road, Helensburgh, Argyll, G84 7LA (first building on the right entering Helensburgh – opposite Waitrose – 3rd exit on roundabout). Have tried to fit everything in to the time restrictions we have on the school let.
Please note the school opens at 10am and closes at 4pm. Competitions starting in the morning will begin at 10.30/10.45am, lunch break will be approx. 1pm and afternoon competitions will continue or begin after lunch break. There is a large car parking area inside school grounds and a Waitrose cafeteria, supermarket and petrol station opposite the school. Helensburgh town centre is approx. 1 mile. All enquiries to CH Campbell, Piping Convener – 07710427535
COMPETITION – ‘A’ GRADE MARCH – starts pm
1- Steven Gray
2- Darach Urquhart
3- Steven Leask
4- Jonathan Greenlees
5- Peter Hunt
6- Michael Fitzhenry
7- Alasdair Henderson
8- Graham Drummond
9- Donald MacPhee
‘A’ GRADE S/R – starts pm
1- Steven Gray
2- Darach Urquhart
3- Steven Leask
4- Jonathan Greenlees
5- Peter Hunt
6- Michael Fitzhenry
7- Alasdair Henderson
8- Graham Drummond
9- Donald MacPhee
‘A’ GRADE PIOBAIREACHD – starts pm
1- Alasdair Henderson
2- Peter McCalister
3- Jonathan Greenlees
4- Donald MacPhee
5- Angus McColl
6- Darach Urquhart
7- Michael Fitzhenry
‘B’ GRADE MARCH – starts am
1- Calum Watson
2- Mael Sicard-Cras
3- Connor Sinclair
4- Angus McColl
5- Keith Bowes
6- Graham Mulholland
7- Greig Canning
8- Angus Nicolson
9- Duncan Beattie
10- Calum Wynd
11- Peter McCalister
12- Jamie Elder
13- Ross Miller
14- Matt Fraser
15- Lachie Dick
‘B’ GRADE S/R – starts am
1- Calum Watson
2- Mael Sicard-Cras
3- Connor Sinclair
4- Angus McColl
5- Keith Bowes
6- Graham Mulholland
7- Greig Canning
8- Angus Nicolson
9- Duncan Beattie
10- Calum Wynd
11- Peter McCalister
12- Jamie Elder
13- Ross Miller
14- Matt Fraser
15- Lachie Dick
‘B’ GRADE PIOBAIREACHD – starts am
1- Calum Watson
2- Peter Hunt
3- Steven Leask
4- Mael Sicard-Cras
5- Matt Fraser
6- Ross Miller
7- Connor Sinclair
8- Jamie Elder
9- Angus Nicolson
10- Katherine Belcher
11- Steven Gray
12- Graham Mulholland
13- Keith Bowes
14- Greig Canning
15- Duncan Beattie
‘C’ GRADE MARCH – starts am
1- Dan Nevans
2- Ben Mulhearn
3- Greg McAllister
4- Katherine Belcher
5- Jonathan Simpson
6- Andy Graham
7- Ronald Telfer
8- Scott MacRae
9- John MacDonald
10- Ross McKay
11- Chris Ross
‘C’ GRADE S/R – starts am
1- Dan Nevans
2- Ben Mulhearn
3- Greg McAllister
4- Katherine Belcher
5- Jonathan Simpson
6- Andy Graham
7- Ronald Telfer
8- Scott MacRae
9- John MacDonald
10- Ross McKay
11- Chris Ross
‘C’ PIOBAIREACHD – starts am
1- Calum Wynd
2- Jonathan Simpson
3- Ronald Telfer
4- Ross McKay
5- Dan Nevans
6- Lachie Dick
7- Ben Mulhearn
8- Andy Graham
9- Chris Ross
10- Scott MacRae
11- John MacDonald
Three tunes to be submitted for each competition.
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