I am currently helping retrieve historic data on two prominent juvenile pipe bands for a friend, and going through the archive I have coincidentally happened upon an obituary for Pipe Major Hugh MacPherson who featured in last week’s Piping Press.
I know that any additional historic information is worth preserving, so I’ve copied the piece and it is attached. It reads:
By Iain Duncan
‘It is with deep regret that his many friends in Fife and around the world will learn of the sudden passing of this talented, yet modest, piper.
‘Hugh MacPherson commenced his piping with the Glencraig Pipe Band and was taught by P/M Tom Jackson. He continued his piping with Glencraig under Pipe Majors Jim Jackson, Eck Walkinshaw and George Yardley.
‘He was a member of the Glencraig band under P/M Walkinshaw when they won the World Juvenile Championship in 1936 and later, in 1939, as a member of the Dundonald Pipe Band which won that same award.
‘Hugh spent a short time with the Lochgelly band before taking over as Pipe Major of Lochore &
District in 1946, the band he led until 1971 when he assumed membership of the Scottish Pipe Band Association’s Panel of Adjudicators.
‘Hugh was admirably suited to such a task and he adjudicated all over the United Kingdom, Ireland and in Eastern Canada. Such was the genius of the man that today, many first class outfits are led
by, and include in their ranks, pipers who began piping under Hugh’s expert guidance – and understanding – and that is very trite where Hugh was concerned.
‘He will long be remembered not only for his tutoring but for his wise counselling in giving youngsters a purpose in life. Two of his former Lochore laddies were Pipe Majors of the Black Watch and some of his
pupils are leading piping authorities overseas. We extend our sincere condolences to all the family at this sad time.’
Alistair Aitken OBE, former RSPBA Adjudicator, also responded: Papers about the Adjudicators’ Panel I have show that Hugh was an SPBA Piping adjudicator during the 1970s and possibly earlier. The last year he was listed was in 1985 when he retired, and the minutes of the November 1988 AGM of the panel recorded that he had passed away earlier that year.
At that time there were no presentations to retiring adjudicators, so no detailed info is to hand. Presentations only started the year after I became Secretary of the Panel following Jock Ferguson also passing away in 1988.
Bob Shepherd started learning the pipes at the age of 10 in the Lochore Juvenile band where he was taught by Hugh. After the article I did about East of Scotland pipe bands, I was contacted by the son of Robert McLaren who was Drum Major/Leading Drummer of the Lochore band when Hugh was Pipe Major. They were also both tutors of the Lochgelly Public Ladies Pipe and I was sent the above picture at the time.
Classic Strathspeys & Reels – Vol. 1 (A – F)
Some of the all time great competition strathspeys and reels are listed here. Each is played in full on the practice chanter by Robert Wallace. Firstly he goes through the tune very slowly at a practice tempo and then he plays it a little more quickly, closer to performance speed. Download your tune and then try playing along. If the tune you need is not listed email pipingpress@gmail.com.