Below are extracts from the diaries of John Campbell of Kilberry, father of Archibald Campbell. They have been reproduced here by kind permission of John Campbell of Kilberry, the current Piping Convenor for the Argyllshire Gathering. They show the extraordinary lengths the family went to support and promote piping. It was at John Campbell’s instigation that the piobaireachd Society was formed and his son and grandson, Archibald and James, went on to cement the family’s place in the annals of piping history.
Friday 6th January 1899: The Weirs, Sandy & Gargoyle (I don’t know his proper name) and Douglas Ramsay (Banff) arrived via Tarbert. There was a pipe competition in the School House in the evening and a great gathering of people. This is the first thing of the kind that has ever taken place in these parts and was got up by Archie for the encouragement of the Band of Pipers lately started here. Douglas Ramsay was judge being a stranger to them all. The Challenge Silver Medal for Marches (5/-) was won by John Carruthers Jnr., 2nd (7/6d) Angus McMillan, Largnahension, 3d (5/-) Sandy McNeill, coachman 4th (2/6d) John Black, Tiretigan. The first prize for Reels & Strathspeys, 10/- [50p in today’s money] was won by Angus McMillan, 2nd, 7/6d, John Carruthers, 3rd, 5/-, Neill McMillan, Largnahension 4th, 2/6d, John McFater, Kilberry. The time was filled up with Gaelic songs and pipe playing by Archie, Douglas Ramsay & Archie’s band of pipers.
Friday 5th January 1900; Angus, Beau & Gargoyle on Coulaghailtro got one snipe and a pheasant. Duncan Inverneill arrived on his bicycle about 5pm. At 6.30 the annual pipe competition took place in the School House. Inverneill was the Judge. Admission free and a large number of people present. The Competitors were Kilberry: Johnnie Carruthers and A. McNeill, Keppoch: Duncan Black, Coulaghailtro: John McFater, Tiretigan: Johnnie Black, Largnahension: Neill, Angus & Duncan McMillan. The awards were Reels & Strathspeys 1st Angus McMillan, 2nd J Carruthers, 3rd A McNeill, 4th John Black. For Marches they were 1st AND medal J. Carruthers, 2nd A McMillan, 3rd D McMillan, 4th J Black. We got back to the house about 8.10 and dined about 8.45. Had three pipers (A McNeill, A McMillan & J Black) to play round the table and they did very well. The piping on the whole was very satisfactory and the whole of the pipers led by Archie (nine in all) played together in the School House after the competition. Archie deserves much credit for the way in which he has got together & trained this band of pipers.
Saturday 5th January 1901: The annual competition of the Kilberry Pipers took place in the Schoolhouse at 7 p.m. Douglas Ramsay was the sole Judge. For the Marches he made a great blunder and put Angus McMillan 1st & Medal, John Carruthers 2nd, John Black 3rd and Neill McMillan 4th. The order ought to have been John Carruthers 1st, John Black 4th and Angus McMillan & Neill McMillan should have played again to decide 2nd & 3d prizes. The only possible reason for giving 1st prize to Angus McMillan was that John Carruthers had held it for two years, but this ought not to have told against him as his playing was very superior to Angus’s
In the Strathspeys & Reels John Carruthers was 1st, Angus McMillan 2nd, John Black 3rd & Duncan McMillan 4th. This was not so far wrong but Angus McMillan & John Black should have played again for 2nd & 3rd place & Neill McMillan should have been 4th in place of Duncan McMillan. In this competition Douglas Ramsay did a very foolish thing by calling in John Carruthers a second time & called no one to play against him. If any recalling is necessary two or more men are always called to play against each other but there is no reason in calling in one man alone. The pipers came down to supper in the house. We danced (as usual) in the library in the evening.
Wednesday 7th January 1902: Douglas Ramsay arrived. Sent to Dunmore for him but he drove to Achaglachgach where he found my trap. Too stormy for the ferry. Pipe Competition in the School House at 7pm. Douglas Ramsay was judge. Only five pipers this year. Angus McMillan kept the Medal by getting 1st prize for Marches, Duncan McMillan 2nd, Sandy McNeill 3rd. For Strathspey & Reel: 1st Angus, 2nd Sandy, 3rd Duncan. John Black’s pipes were all wrong & he got nothing. Neill McMillan got nothing. Everybody went up except one & I felt too lame. Annie, Alice & Yso went in a covered cart.
3rd Saturday January 1903: Macdougall Gillies the Piper came. We were to have had Pipe Competition & a concert in the School House but as both Maggie & Molly were laid up with bad colds we put off the Concert & had the Pipe Competition in the House. Gillies was Judge. Only three pipers to compete and they were placed the same way in both of the events. 1st & Medal Alex. McNeill, Coachman 2nd Duncan McMillan, Largnahension 3rd Neill McMillan
The 1st Competition was for Dance Music & the 2nd for Marches. I think that Neill McMillan ought to have been first for marches. He played a simple tune but played it well & with spirit. This is the first time that we have had to employ a professional judge but we failed in getting an amateur. We used to have seven pipers but one is dead, two gone to S. Africa & one to sea.
January 1904: Two of them, my sons John & Archie, are in India. Jock on the staff in Simla on the Intelligence Dept. and Archie Assistant Commissioner at Sirsa in the Punjab.
