Last Friday my old Boys Brigade Company, the 214th Glasgow, was honoured with a Civic Reception from the city to mark 100 years since the company’s founding.
It was held in the City Chambers off George Square. Glasgow has deserved much of the recent criticism of its roads, litter, shop closures…but you cannot complain about the City Chambers. If you have never visited you must. There won’t be finer marble surroundings anywhere in the British Isles.
By the Editor
About 40 ex-members were met by a suitably attired concierge and a piper and led to a drinks reception courtesy of the city fathers. Joe Noble’s widow Lynn and his son Craig were also there in a nice touch the late Joe would have greatly applauded.
Joe was just one of the many stars of piping and drumming the 214 music factory spawned. I was seated next to the greatest of them all, P/M Ian McLellan.
That factory started in 1924 in Gordon Park Church, Whiteinch. Most BB companies of the time had a band, either bugle or pipes. Whiteinch used to have its own pipe band so there was clearly no room for brass at Gordon Park.
Alex Ibell was a member of the Whiteinch band and before WW2 set about teaching all BB boys who wanted to learn the pipes. No fees, no instrument purchase, no kilts. Just practice, membership of the BB and a desire to make the band, was all he was looking for.
After a few years of Alex’s diligent teaching, and the leadership of P/M Alex MacIver, the 214 juvenile band grew into a prize-winning machine. Each September Grade 1 pipe majors could be seen circling, eager to snap up well-trained graduates too old for the band at 18. You can read all about this elsewhere in Piping Press.
P/M Ian is now in his 80s and, though retired from judging, is still enjoying his piping. He was heading to the John MacLellan contest the following day for a listen. As the evening progressed his sharp memory elicited some good stories.
How did he tune up his band (Strathclyde Police if you don’t already know). ‘I got the low As all together and then sent them off to tune their drones. Most of the time I didn’t have to touch them. A quick check with our tune up tune, Old Adam, and we were ready to go.’
That system won Ian 12 World titles, the first in 1976 at Hawick and the last in 1991 at, I think, Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.
But his next story is all about 1987 – the year he was pushed into second place by Bill Livingstone’s 78th Fraser Highlanders, the first overseas band to win the title.
Ian is in uniform, out on the beat in the city centre. He gets a message that he has to report to Chief Constable Andrew Sloan’s office right away. What’s this about thinks he, as he hurries off to the Strathclyde force’s Pitt Street HQ.
‘In you go, he’s waiting for you’, says the secretary. ‘Well Ian’, says Chief Sloan from behind his considerable desk, ‘is there something the matter?’
‘What do you mean, sir?’
‘Well you didn’t win the Worlds, did you …… Is there anything I can help you with?’
‘Now that you mention it, sir, there is.’
‘Be Prepared’ might be the motto of the Boys Scouts, but it is something every BB boy understands too.
‘I handed him a list of five pipers and drummers who were serving police officers but who were not in the band,’ said Ian.
‘What!’, says the Chief with some emphasis, ‘five of them not playing in my band! Leave it with me.’
Ian went off on a three week promo tour of Japan and when he returned there at the next band meeting were the five, all safely transferred into the pipe band division.
‘This gave me the numbers I needed. Previously I only had 11 pipers. Now I could afford to drop someone if their pipes weren’t right. The following season we retook the Worlds and won all the other majors bar one.’
This was just one story from a very enjoyable evening. What this BB company meant to so many boys in its 100 years was well summed up by ex-Muirheads piper Gordon Ferguson in his programme note. Ill health prevented him from travelling from his home in Queensland, Australia. Get well soon Gordon.
After a satisfying meal and a few more drinks we rounded off the night with a hearty chorus of the BB hymn, ‘Will Your Anchor Hold’.
The 214 ex-members are all edging on a bit but the feeling of camaraderie and team spirit is still there. Thanks to organisers Donnie Glass, Steven McQuillan, Alan MacColl, and especially Glasgow City Council, for letting us re-kindle that spirit for a few hours last Friday.
Tremendous and well deserved