There have been ongoing comments since my ‘What Price Forgiveness for P/M Gordon Walker‘ essay in October 2023. It has clearly struck a chord with readers. Most have been in agreement with the sentiments contained therein.
There have been ‘contributions’ by ill-informed contrarians intent on indulging their prejudices, but nothing worthy of publication. Their arguments all fell at the first level of ratiocination.
The Rev. Leslie Barrett, the noted amateur piper, posted his thoughts last week. I believe he speaks for the majority:
‘Duncan Brown quotes from the Bible, John chapter 8 v. 1-11 – well worth a careful read for the full context and meaning. The episode addresses forgiveness but also judgement and the hypocrisy and contradictions that afflict the human heart and human affairs.
‘Here [in my article] ‘PR people’ promoting their brand from within the alcoholic drinks industry metaphorically point the finger and a gifted piper, having fallen from grace, suffers humiliation.
‘It is deeply upsetting and unsettling for all concerned. Perhaps the best we can hope for is to learn from what has happened and all move forward in a spirit of realistic, compassionate understanding. I will hope to hear Gordon back on the boards very soon.’
The Duncan Brown comment Leslie refers to reads: ‘“Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone..” The man’s been tortured for what has happened, and these ‘self righteous’ accusers are now literally denying the world the God-given gift that he has to entertain us lesser mortals.
‘The shame now belongs to them. I hope they waken up, and let his gift back into the fold. I’ve heard it said that the ‘piping world’ is like one big family. Why would they do this to one of their own..? Please, please re-consider…’
Plaid Brooch
Reader Clive Douglas: ‘Just noticed this plaid brooch in a sale this morning. There’s no note of what competition the prize was awarded for that year, just that it was for the second best performance. Pity the winner didn’t get his name engraved on it.
‘If it was presented as second prize in the Gold Medal, then I think Sandy Cameron won first prize in 1862. Nice brooch!’
Sandy Cameron did indeed strike Gold in 1862 Clive. Well the notices say ‘Pipe Major Alexander Cameron, Greenock Rifle Volunteers’; I believe he’s one and the same person.
The brooch is probably Sterling silver with a nice Cairngorm stone? Any experts out there who can confirm?
NZ Piobaireachd
A collection of piobaireachd with New Zealand links is now available. Comunn na Piobaireachd New Zealand is delighted to launch this collection, writes President Iain Hines.
Initially it comprises some of the tunes entered in our 2024 piobaireachd composition competition to honour Sir Ian and Neville McKay. Some of the featured composers are kiwis, and others are from across the globe.
The resource can be found here. Further tunes composed by New Zealanders will be added in due course.
John MacDougall, 214 BB
John MacDougall was a member of the 214 Glasgow Boys Brigade band in the early ’60s. He passed away in March aged 81. He was the salt of the earth, a gentle giant. I well remember him coming round the learners’ table in Gordon Park Church Hall, Whiteinch. As we sat there with our practice chanters struggling with our taorluaths, there was John, always with a smile, offering words of encouragement.
I don’t think he kept his piping going much after the BB, concentrating on his career in education and eventually becoming Head Teacher at Braidfield High School in Clydebank.
John is on the extreme left of the above picture of the 214’s 1962 Highland Shield winning band. Others in the picture are Dougie Elmslie, Tommy Grindlay, Malcolm MacKenzie, Eddie Thompson, Jim Marshall, Archie Longwell, Hector Russell and Gordon Ferguson.
