The death had been reported of P/M Malcolm ‘Malky’ Mackenzie, a huge figure in the pipe band movement for over 50 years. He was 85.
His son Donald, also a noted piper, said: ‘It is with a heavy heart I report the passing of my dad. He passed away this morning after a short battle with mesothelioma.
‘The piping world was his life’s passion and he made many, many friends over the years. As a family we would like to personally thank John Muir, Nathaniel Russell, Kevin Moffat, Neil Macdougall and Sam Young who regularly kept contact with myself and my dad and provided great comfort over the past couple of years.
‘He was certainly at his happiest having a chat about his piping days. He will be greatly missed by myself and the Mackenzie family. Funeral details to follow in due course.’
Malcolm was born on April 21st, 1939. He joined the 108th BB Company in Partick, Glasgow. It was there he started lessons on the pipes aged nine, and afterwards his main tutor became Peter MacLeod the famous piper and composer. (‘Wee’ Peter’s tunes include masterpieces such as Dora MacLeod, The Conundrum, John Morrison, Assynt House and Hugh Kennedy.)
The band of the 108th was successful, winning he Glasgow Battalion’s ‘Highland Shield’ on more than one occasion. Malcolm was a BB boy through and through and was always grateful for the start in life the organisation had given him. He became President of the company’s ex-members’ association.
At 16 Malky joined the Rutherglen Pipe Band under Jimmy Baxter and was with them when they were promoted to Grade 1. As a teenager he also started work in the Glasgow shipyards with magnate Sir Eric Yarrow’s yard in Scotstoun, just along the Clyde from Partick, and was with the firm until his retirement.
Malky was an outstanding footballer, but when his career was cut short by injury he decided to concentrate all his efforts on piping. He joined the Red Hackle Pipe Band based in Otago Street, Glasgow, just across the road from the College of Piping.
He was with the band for 22 years throughout most of their glory years under P/M John Weatherson. His muckers in the band were the late Hector Russell and Andrew Wright. There is a famous picture of Malky, John and Andrew judging at Luss Games in the 1980s:
John, ‘wee Jock’, was renowned as the Worlds-winning pipe major of the 277 Argylls TA band which triumphed in Belfast in 1962. He was also a partner in the firm of RG Hardie.
With Malky as P/Sgt, the Hackle won every major award available to them except the World Championship. They made innovative recordings involving use of the organ, brass and ensemble effects unheard of at the time. The organist was a friend of Malky’s from Yarrow’s
When Malky succeeded Jock as P/M, he led them to a commendable fourth place at the Worlds at Lanark in 1978. He retired from bands in 1985 and started a new career as a record producer for Klub Records.
For 20 years he oversaw all the Worlds recordings the company produced as well as the Pipers of Distinction CDs of solo piping. This brought him into contact with all of the top names in the solo and band worlds, interaction he greatly enjoyed.
Parallel to the record producing work, Malky was a highly respected RSPBA adjudicator, travelling the world and officiating at all the big competitions. As a judge he was unique in that he was qualified to judge, piping, ensemble and drumming. He learned his percussion skills from the Hackle’s leading drummer, Wilson Young.
Malky lived most of his life with his wife Janet in Bearsden on the outskirts of Glasgow. Janet passed away six years ago. We extend our condolences to the wider family at this time.
- If anyone from Malcolm’s wide circle of friends would like to leave a message of condolence please do so in our Comments section.
RW
