A nice, well-deserved comment from reader Bruce Young about the late Jamie Troy:
‘I remember maybe 15 years ago ordering reeds. I was sent a dozen and told to pick what I liked and return the rest with a cheque. I kept them all and still have a couple hidden away. The piping community is the best, and he was the best of the best.’
I couldn’t agree more Bruce. I stayed with Jamie and Louise on a visit to Victoria in 1979. Their generosity and hospitality, well what can I say? Jamie P was a very small boy but could rattle out a good tune on both pipes and drums. A remarkable talent, a musician and reedmaker who will honour his father’s memory.
Jamie W’s parent organisation, the BC Pipers, have a full tribute: ‘The BC Pipers’ Association has lost a long-time friend, Life Member, Pipe Major James W. Troy…… We grieve alongside Jamie’s wife of 50 years, Louise, their children, James P. Troy, Jacquie Troy Carter, and their families…..
The popular tune, Troy’s Wedding (see picture top), was written for Jamie and Louise by Louise’s brother Colin Magee. The piper in the picture is a very young Bruce Gandy. Read more here.
Ian McLellan
A reminder that Ian’s funeral details are as follows: Friday, 19th December, Glasgow Cathedral 1.30pm; thence to Dalnottar Crematorium, Clydebank, 3.30pm; thence to Windyhill Gold Club, Bearsden.
Talk Piobaireachd
The latest online discussion takes place tonight and will be led by Mike Cusack, Houston, Texas, a member of the Piobaireachd Society’s Music Committee. Mike will look at two of next year’s set tunes, Beloved Scotland and the Fingerlock. The talks are at 8pm GMT and are open to all PS members. Anyone who wishes to join can do so here.
Solo Judges
Press Release: ‘The Solo Piping Judges Association held their Annual General Meeting on Sunday 16th November at the Army School of Bagpipe Music & Highland Drumming, Edinburgh. Bruce Hitchings was re-elected as the Association’s Chair with Euan Anderson and Roddy Livingstone continuing in their respective roles as Treasurer and Secretary.
‘2025 saw the retirement (by rotation) of committee members Logan Tannock and Jim McGillivray, whom the Association thanks for their commitment over the past three years. The resulting vacancies have been filled by Peter Hunt and Donald MacPhee. Remaining committee member, Derek Fraser, has a further period of his three-year tenure to serve.
‘The meeting was well attended both in person and via Zoom. No significant changes were made to the Association’s Constitution or Code of Conduct. Following amendments made in 2024, Bruce Hitchings emphasised the Association’s commitment to ensuring that teachers do not judge pupils.
‘Following the AGM, members of the Supplementary List of Judges (previously administered by the Competing Pipers Association but falling under the auspices of the SPJA from 2024) joined Senior and Approved Judges for an informal discussion seminar covering topics including use of recordings as an aid to judging, excessive tuning by competitors after the time allocated, and Gordon McCready (President CPA) led a session on matters of current interest/priority to competing pipers.’
Correspondence
Stephen Beattie: ‘I’ve had a positive result (from Jeannie Campbell) on the wording of a piece of text in an advert in Lt. G de M H Orpen Palmer’s book ‘Irish Airs for the War Pipes’. Great service once again; many thanks.’
