Logan Tannock, President of the Scottish Pipers’ Association: ‘Thank you for the stories on John Scott. They brought back memories of my early days at the SPA club nights at the Dorchester Hotel. I remember John, Captain Alex Fraser and Dolina MacKay, and yes I remember the Thow drones and how sweet they sounded.
‘John was always willing to offer advice to me as a young player, or indeed any of the other youngsters he felt he could pass some of his knowledge on to. I was lucky enough to be allowed to play Alex’s new full silver bagpipe, which if I remember correctly was a set of Grainger & Campbell’s.
‘Alex also very kindly gave me some old music books. I remember going through them for the first time and noticing they had titles the titles out from both the index and the tune page. I believe it was something to do with bad luck at sea. I still use these books to this day, although they are well worn now.
Strathclyde Police under P/M Duncan Nicholson begin this 2012 Worlds Medley with Dolina MacKay:
‘I will always remember Dolina at the door of any of the SPA venues, club nights at the Dorchester, the RSPBA building for a juvenile or amateur competition, or the People’s Palace at Bellahouston Park for the SPA Professional. In fact if I remember rightly the editor being one of the competitors at that venue. I was still playing in the Juvenile ranks. Anyway thanks for the memories.’
Tom Johnstone: ‘Great article about John Scott! I remember him well – he was such a character the way he introduced competitors in the contests.
‘One memory was when he came to the SPA one night, Room 4 at the Highlanders’ Institute, with an old set of ivory-mounted pipes and announced that he had ‘dug them up in South Uist’. The way he said it sounded as if he found them in a hole in the ground, but obviously that could not have been true. They had small mounts so possibly MacDougalls or Glens.’
One other connection to John Scott is his brother Adam, writes the Editor. He was also a piper and noted tutor. He died in 1989 aged 72.
There is a memorial trophy in his name at South Uist Games. Adam was married to Donella Beaton, of the famous jig. They met at the Lochboisdale Hotel where Donella worked as a barmaid and Adam was chauffeur to the owner, Finlay MacKenzie. Readers will know that it is the Finlay MacKenzie Memorial Trophy that is offered each year for the winner of the Uist & Barra Piobaireachd.
Read the original article here.
