This article is from the Oban Times and covers the second day of the Argyllshire Gathering in 1934….
The weather on Thursday,, the second day of the Games, was ideal for piping, and lovers of the lighter form of bagpipe music had the pleasure of listening to a wide range of tunes, many which were finely played.
Those who took part in the competition for marches, strathspeys and reels are all pipers of established reputation and the standard was very high, the performances throughout being of great merit.
The winner was P/Cpl. A Thomson, Cameron Highlanders, who was placed first playing Highland Wedding, Shepherd’s Crook and Loch Carron, and he gave a master exhibition.
The second prize was awarded to P/M John MacDonald, Glasgow Police, for an interesting and well-balanced performance of John MacFadyen of Melfort, Monymusk, and Pretty Marion.
L/Cpl Ronald MacCallum, 8th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, who was third, played Lochaber Gathering, Tullochgorm and the Smith of Killiechassie [sic]. He also gave a fine performance especially in the Strathspey & Reel.
Among others who might be specially mentioned, although failing to enter the prize list, are John Wilson, Edinburgh, and Malcolm R Macpherson, Inversion. The former played Abercairney Highlanders, Piper’s Bonnet and Caber Feidh, while Macpherson gave Glengarry Gathering, Atholl Cummers and Mrs MacPherson of Inveran.
The judges were Mr Neil Ramsay of Drumore, Mr MacDonald of Largie and Mr CD MacTaggart.
The Marches: In this section 34 pipers appeared out of a total entry of 44. The list of competitors contained a number of first class players and the judges had no easy tasking arriving at their decision. Some very good players were unfortunate in making very small errors….ultimately a short leet of eight was made up.
Those chosen to re-play were Owen MacNiven, Paisley, a native of Islay, P/M Greenfield, Royal Scots, Piper Donald MacLean, Glasgow, [he of Farewell to Oban fame], Duncan MacIntyre, Glasgow, L/Cpl McGrady, HLI, Donald Ross, Lochgilphead, Thomas Reid, Glasgow, [Robert Reid’s brother], and P/M MacAulay, Lovat Scouts [Angus, later to emigrate to New Zealand].
MacNiven, McGrady and Ross each played Highland Wedding, Greenfield and MacIntyre gave Abercairney Highlanders, Reid and MacAulay rendered Argyllshire Gathering, and MacLean, Stirlingshire Militia.
Piper Ross was placed first, the other prizewinners in order being P/M Greenfield, L/Cpl McGrady, P/M MacAulay and Piper MacNiven. The playing on the whole was very good but there were too many cases of avoidable false fingering. In one or two notable instances this defect spoiled what might otherwise have been fine performances. One of the best marches was played by MacAulay [pictured below] but unfortunately his big drone reed stopped.
Piper Donald Ross, the winner of this competition, is the son of Dr Donald Ross, Medical Superintendent of the Argyll & Bute Hospital, Lochgilphead. Dr Ross is to be heartily congratulated on the success of his son. Archibald Campbell Kilberry, Major Leckie Ewing, and Mr Neil Ramsay acted a judges.
Strathspeys and Reels: This was another competition in which there was a large entry, and the playing reached a very high standard. The total number of entries was 43 and 37 came forward.
It is some years since such good piping was heard in this section at Oban…Following careful consideration the judges selected a short leet of six: P/Cpl Thomson, Peter Davidson, New Zealand, P/M Greenfield, P/Cpl Peter Bain, Scots Guards, L/Cpl McGrady and Piper Peter MacCallum, 8th Argylls.
The judges awarded first prize to Peter Davidson who played Blair Drummond and The Flagon. The second prize was given to Peter MacCallum whose tunes were Highland Harry and Lochcarron, and McGrady gained third for his playing of Maggie Cameron and the Sheepwife. Bain was fourth with Arniston Castle and Cabar Feidh and Thomson placed fifth with Delvinside and John MacKechnie’s Reel.
All the competitors who entered the short leet played extremely well, but Davidson made a particularly strong impression, a special feature of his performance being his strong and accurate fingering. Besides those who entered the short leet, reference might be made to pipers Archie MacNab, Craignish, RU Brown, Balmoral, Duncan MacIntyre, Angus Campbell, Inverlair, TD Reid, Ian C Cameron, Edinburgh and P/M Slattery, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Piper Davidson, who resides at Dunedin, New Zealand, is at present enjoying a holiday in Scotland. His appearance at the Argyllshire Gathering is the realisation of a long-cherished desire to visit Scotland to take part in some of the national piping competitions. He is a pupil of George Yardley, a champion of pre-War days, who emigrated to New Zealand.
Yardley, it may be recalled, secured the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal at Oban in 1911 and he also gained leading honours at the Northern Meeting in the same year. Piper Davidson has proved an apt pupil…and the distinction he has achieved [at the Argyllshire Gathering] will be hailed with delight by piping enthusiasts in New Zealand and also Australia.
Dr JC Simpson, Mr CD MacTaggart and Mr Graham Campbell of Shirvan, were the judges.
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