Next Friday (December 6) a set of pipes that belonged to the late Dr Leslie Craig will go under the auctioneer’s hammer in Glasgow. Great Western Auctions have put a price of between £1,200 and £1,600 on the Robert Gillanders instrument.
The description reads: ‘A full set of ebonised white metal and ivory mounted Scottish Highland bagpipes. The mounts hand engraved with a thistle foliate pattern; together with an RG Hardie, Glasgow, chanter.
‘The pipes belonged to Dr Leslie Craig who was made an MBE for his services to piping. Ivory declaration reference: 75Z4NTRM.’
I have no idea what ‘ebonised white metal is’ but to me the pipes look as though they are adorned with German silver. A handsome set. Dr Craig was a stalwart of the Glasgow Highland Club and a regular judge on the circuit.
He did a great deal for piping in the city and in Argyll. Not slow with a quip, at Cowal two days after I won the 1985 Oban Gold Medal he remarked, ‘about time too!’
Interested in the pipes? Here’s the link.
Schools Jobs
Two posts, one piping one drumming, are being offered for the first time by Edinburgh City Council’s Instrumental Music Service. The deadline has been extended from yesterday (Nov. 28) which suggest they are having difficulty filling them.
Two small but welcome steps at redressing the imbalance between state and private school pipe band tuition. Both posts carry a salary up to £46,700 (pro-rata for part time), and are for two days and a morning.
The blurb reads: ‘This is an exciting opportunity to teach in various schools across Edinburgh. We are looking for a highly skilled Instrumental Music Instructor [s]…. for pupils on both bagpipe and chanter [and drums]. The successful candidate will have experience in instrumental teaching, with a sound knowledge of the current curriculum, preparing pupils for SQA and external exams, as well as working with groups and ensembles.’
For more information about how to apply contact Eileen Kerr at the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust on 0131 510 8384, or admin@sspdt.org.uk
EUSPBA
Next week may see changes at the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association with the election of office bearers taking place by ballot prior to the AGM. For President, Bill Caudill, the incumbent, and David Hall have been nominated. Incumbent Joe McGonigal and CPA President Derek Midgley are standing for election as Vice-President. Both positions permit ‘write-in’ ballots and members are urged to exercise their vote. The election will run until Sunday (Dec. 1). The winners assume office on the morning of the AGM, December 7.
Book Review
A couple of weeks ago we ran a story on John MacInnes’s books ‘Pipe Band Reflections Vol. 1&2’. His fellow retired adjudicator Alistair Aitken has commented:
‘The books provide a comprehensive insight into John’s commitment pipe bands as well as a wealth of historical information. They are informative and illustrate John’s interaction with many of the great individuals who helped develop pipe bands and the RSPBA to the positions they hold today. Some of the recollections are provided in remarkable detail, particularly regarding adjudication and results, which suggest very accurate record keeping by the author.
‘The books demonstrate that there is much more to the RSPBA and the pipe band world than the at times cut-throat politics of pipe band competition. They represent good value at a reasonable price, and I would recommend that those in the pipe band community read them as the importance of historical information of this nature cannot be overstated.’ Get the books here.
Pipes and Pop Groups
I came across this in a 1969 Piping Times, writes Duncan Watson. My father, Addison Watson, took a dim view of ‘pop’ style music being played on the pipes. He was not alone of course and such playing was regarded as nonsense and certainly in our house it was not tolerated by my father.
I find it sadly amusing now the stuff that is being played on the bagpipe today. Undoubtedly in times past the bagpipe was treated with greater reverence.
I see we now have another such group ‘Rolling Drones’ to add to ‘Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ and ‘Drums and Roses’. Where will it end?
