The New England Pipe and Drum Academy began last night with a two-hour workshop at the Clan MacPherson band’s practice. They’re going to the Worlds to play in G4b. I spent some time with them going through their tunes on practice chanters and then sorting pipes.
They have been good supporters of the Academy but the cost of going to Scotland has meant many of them couldn’t attend individually this year. They will be back in 2017. This year’s classes start today.
The school is based at Adelynrood a religious retreat north of Boston and the ladies who run it have made us very welcome. They tell me that after the American Revolution US Episcopalian Bishops could not be ordained in England where they had to swear allegiance to the King, so they had it done in Aberdeen and therefore they, the ladies, felt the presence of bagpipes in their centre quite apt.
Looking at the lists for the UK Championships at Stormont I think it would be remiss not to mention the good showings for Scottish Power and the the Spirit of Scotland bands in Grade 1. The Power made it back into the top three and the Spirit improved on their fifth place at the British to take fourth. An outstanding performance by them – and by Jim Kilpatrick and his corps to take the drumming. In Grade 2 we had the Police Service of Northern Ireland coming out on top again, and according to all reports sounding like they could be on the way to Grade 1. And what about Glasgow Skye? Second in the grade and winning the drumming – and this against very good outfits such as Lomond & Clyde, Johnstone and Buchan Peterson. This season just gets more interesting by the day and well done to all of these bands.
SPA President Tom Johnstone has passed on the sad news of Rod McFadyen’s 
‘Sorry to report the death of Rod McFadyen [pictured] who played with the London-based British Caledonian Airways band for many years. He died on Saturday (June 4) and had been suffering from prostate cancer. Rod was a larger than life character and worked in the newspaper printing industry all his life.’
Rod was indeed larger than life. He enjoyed attending the Bratach Gorm each November and he and I would often spend time swapping newspaper stories. Rod had printing ink in his veins as they say, and was with The Times/ Sunday Times through the turmoil of the Murdoch era. Condolences to his family.
The picture up top shows Rod in the B. Cal standing to the right of the bass drum. Far left is Pipe Major Robert Richardson. To his right can be spotted Ronnie MacShannon.
New letter posted today about a search for a tune called the Menzies March. Read it here.
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TheTrippleBs (Breasts, Bass drums and Birls).
Those like myself with an interest in the Boys Brigade may like to have a look at this story of their Beating the Retreat in Edinburgh.
‘The aim of the MacCrimmon competition is to encourage top pipers to explore the piping traditions of Scotland, Ireland, and Brittany by requiring competitors play three medleys, one from each of three piping traditions (Breton, Irish, and Scottish), not to exceed six minutes each.’