Dr Katherine Macaulay: ‘I recently read an article by you on ‘History of the Scottish Piping Society of London; The Post War Years’ written in 2016. In the article you mentioned Lewis Beaton Memorial Pipes … but, sadly, the actual pipes have disappeared somewhere along the timeline. Apparently they were actually Lewis Beaton’s silver mounted MacDougalls. Where are they now?
‘My father is Iain Macaulay, nephew to, and taught the pipes by, Angus Macaulay. He was given Lewis Beaton’s pipes at Lewis’s request as an up-and-coming piper at the time. I believe these are the pipes you refer to in your article as silver mounted, African blackwood, and fairly old.
‘Currently, the pipes are still in his possession but have not been played for a number of years. Do you have any further information on the history of these pipes? My understanding, from my father, is they have been played by other well known pipers, then passed onto the next generation.
‘I am also contacting the Scottish Piping Society of London for further help with information/future of the pipes.’
The only picture we have of Lewis Beaton with his pipes is at the head of this article Dr Macaulay. They look as though they are ivory mounted only.
In the above picture of Angus Macaulay he does appear to have a set of silver and ivory pipes though whether these are Lewis Beaton’s MacDougalls is impossible to say.
I met Angus in 1983 when on a visit to NZ. He was quite elderly then and though he’d been away from the islands for many years hadn’t lost the characteristic lilt to his voice. There was no mention of the pipes that weekend but perhaps some of our Kiwi friends can help.
Judges’ Training
A brief response from Ian Plunkett following the traction on his pipe band judges story: ‘Well at least my article has sparked a bit of a follow up with reference to the article naming three all time greats, Bob Hardie, John Weatherston and Iain McLeod.
‘Unless people speak up and be counted then disquiet will only ever remain in the beer tent. I hope others will air their frustrations and let’s see how these 12 monitored runs and the two-year probation works out. I think if you sit down and clearly work it out you will see the outcome and I will leave it at that.’
Captain John Contest
Very healthy entry for tomorrow’s Captain John MacLellan Memorial solo contest. So much so that events begin at 8.30am. The venue is the Army School at Inchdrewer House, Edinburgh. All welcome.
Grades for P, A, B and C piobaireachd and light music, and an all comers Hornpipe and Jig which has 59 entries. Results from late afternoon.
World Solo Drumming
The RSPBA will hold their annual WSD contest at Caledonian University, Glasgow, on October 19. In the past playing orders have been switched around to allow accompanying pipers to play for different drummers.
This caused considerable disruption and the Association is now urging all drummers to ensure they have a dedicated piper to play for them. There will be no changes to playing order on the day and competitors need to be in their band room 30 minutes before their playing time.
Letters
Jane Thomson Griffin, Ontario: ‘My late cousin Angus MacLeod was Pipe Major of the Red Hackle Pipe Band and I remember him being at the Braemar Games winning a trophy presented to him by our late Queen Elizabeth. I have a picture of the proud occasion. I do remember as a child going to the Highland Games and Cheering when the Red Hackle came on the field. Our MacLeod family were proud Lewis/ Harris/ Stornoway descendants. moving to Glasgow work related early 1929s.‘
I do remember seeing such a picture Ms Griffin but we do not have a copy. Be obliged if you could forward it.
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James Galbraith contacted us some time ago: ‘I am trying to find out some information about two folio volumes of piobaireachd manuscript from around 1910-1920. The first volume has the name ‘John Couper, Nov.1930’ written on the endpaper. Below this is the comment, ‘Copied from the M.S. of Donald Stuart MacDonald, a pipe-major of the Royal Scots.
‘MacDonald’s manuscript was a copy of the unpublished MS of Angus Mackay. MacDonald made his copy while piper at Brodick Castle. Dated Edinburgh 1882. Dedicated to Duke of Hamilton. D.S. MacDonald, PM, 1st Battalion the Royal Scots’.
‘Although Couper has appended his name and date I don’t think that he was the author of the manuscript. I think it was copied before it came into his possession. The first volume begins with ‘Beloved Scotland I leave Thee Gloomy’. It contains 47 numbered tunes and ends with ‘The Waking of the Bridegroom’. The second volume, similarly bound, begins with ‘King James the Third’s Lament’ and ends with ‘Lament for the Earl of Antrim’.
‘The tunes in this volume are not numbered but there are 121 pages of manuscript. I now believe that the volumes, which appear similar, may be in different hands. The second volume also has ‘Beloved Scotland I leave thee Gloomy’ but it has different notation in some respects (apologies – I am not a piper).
‘I understand that DS MacDonald’s manuscript went to South Africa before being acquired by General CS Thomason. I am unsure when Thomason died and subsequently am unsure at what point the MacDonald manuscript was copied. Would it be likely someone copied it in the 1920s after it ended up in the National Library? Any advice or comment would be welcome. If you would like me to send any images please let me know.‘
Please do forward any images Mr Galbraith. General Thomason died in 1911.
