I have compiled a new book of bagpipe tunes written by pipers from three generations of the Pinkman family. The majority of the tunes, which number over 300, were written by Pipe Major Robert (Rab) Pinkman (KOSB) pictured above.
There are also tunes from Rab’s father, Edward Pinkman, his grandfather, Robert D Pinkman and Archie Pinkman of Bilston Glen Colliery Pipe Band fame.
By Stephen Beattie
The book, with 354 pages and weighing just over 1.1kg, is in A4 portrait format with metal comb binding allowing the pages to lie flat when opened. It contains 340 tunes as follows:
2/4 Marches 49; 3/4 Marches 22; 4/4 Marches 15; 6/8 Marches 74; Strathspeys 20; Reels 28; Hornpipes 23; Jigs 41; Slow Airs/Marches 20; Waltzes 21; Polkas 10; Piobaireachd 4; Other 13.
Composers: P/M Rab Pinkman 220 tunes; Robert Dick Pinkman 78 tunes; Edward Pinkman 13 tunes; Archie Pinkman 7 tunes; others 22 tunes.
This is not really a commercial enterprise. I was fortunate enough to get photocopies of the handwritten tunes and given my interest in collecting bagpipe music books, I created the book, essentially for my own satisfaction.
However, it would be a shame for the music to be lost to the piping world so I wanted to make it available. I have had two copies produced – mainly to check it out.
I have no desire to make money on this, so I will sell the books in modest quantities. Printing an individual copy will be around £14 cost price plus postage and packing. Postage might be in the region of £5 inland UK.
P/M Rab Pinkman: Born on the 9th of February 1952 in Leith, Rab is a third cousin of Robert Robertson ‘Bobby’ Pinkman. In 1971 he joined the 1st Bn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers and from October 1977 to May 1978 attended the Pipe Major’s course at Edinburgh Castle which he successfully completed. He went on to become Pipe Major of the regiment in 1979. He was also a former senior instructor at the Army School of Piping.
In 1984 he became Pipe Major of the Pipes and Drums of the Army Apprentices College Army Catering Corps, taking over from Pipe Major Jim Wilson. He was succeeded in that role by Pipe Major Roger Huth. He later did some tutoring of learners with Penicuik and District Pipe Band, taking over as Pipe Major in 1994 for one season. After his time with Penicuik, Rab moved to be Pipe Major of Pestonpans RBL Pipe Band.
Rab Pinkman died on the 8th December 2012 was buried at Newbattle Cemetery. At his funeral there was a small gathering of piper friends including Tom Wilson, ex-Shotts, Harry McNulty, Jim Turnbull (Royal Scots), Jim Nicholl (Royal Engineers retired), old and young Eddie Hanratty, Frankie Orr together with family and friends. Pipe Major Eddie Hanratty and piper Willie Stewart (AKA Willie Silver) from Penecuik & District Pipe Band played Itchy Fingers on a lovely, cold morning as a frozen mist drifted between the graves.
Robert Dick Pinkman, formerly Robert Dick, was born on the 9th April 1905 to Robert Dick and Margaret Dickson Pinkman. He married Barbara Love Aikman at Newbattle Parish Church on the 14th December 1928. He became Pipe Major of Arniston and District Pipe Band in 1937. He died in 1974.
Edward Pinkman was born in 1929, the son of Robert (Dick) Pinkman. He signed up for military service in 1947 aged 18 and served three years with the Royal Scots at Dreghorn. He left the Army in 1950 and worked for four years as a miner at Arniston Colliery, Gorebridge.
He re-enlisted with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in 1954. He competed at the Northern Meeting in Inverness in 1956 and 1957. He won the Army Open Championship for MSR. He later played in Grade 1 with Bilston Glen. He died in 1995.
Archibald Neilson Pinkman was born on Burns Day, 25th January, 1931 in Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow. He was Pipe Major of Bilston Glen Colliery in the 1960s and 1970s. At one time there were five members of the Pinkman family in the front rank: Archie, his son Bobby, Rab Pinkman, Eddie (Rab’s dad) and Bert (Rab’s grandfather). Archie Pinkman passed away on the 5th June 2015.
- Get your copy of the book by emailing Stephen : stephen_beattie@yahoo.co.uk
