Back home in Oz and back at work. Now a brief summary of my August pilgrimage. After committing to play with the Hawthorn Pipe Band at the Worlds, it was a great relief to actually arrive in Scotland for the first time since 2004.
After dragging my sorry self (cattle class ticket) through Edinburgh Airport, it was straight to adventure number one: formally meeting Tim Gellaitry and spending the afternoon at Sinclair’s workshop in Leith.
By Alastair McInnes
A tour of the shop and storeroom was the tonic needed to offset the ptosis (look it up!). I did not leave empty handed either, and was certain the firm continues to provide top products as it has for the past century.
On to Glasgow for ‘band immersion’ and 10 days of working hard with enough playtime to balance. Perth was our first competition and when it was over we left feeling we ‘belonged’. I definitely could’ve done without the reed failure a couple of days out from ‘The Green’, but Struan (Thorpe) found a brilliant replacement that did the job with minimal haemorrhoid enlargement.
To be able to put forth four performances was significant having travelled so far, and the ‘pep talks’ by P/M Fraser proved helpful and insightful. The Worlds was an overwhelmingly positive experience and a return for the band in 2028 seems very likely – but it’s ‘one and done’ for me.
The new week saw John Cutler and I commence a pilgrimage up the east coast to an absolute highlight: a day with Duncan Watson! I knew it would be good…but it was gold.
Topics covered included reed making, ceòl mòr, competition march tempos, the therapeutic value of a Westie, and, very much so, the issue(s) of judging. What an afternoon it was, and when he produced a stunning MacDougall pipe for a tune snippet we were enthralled.
Onwards to Nairn and Inverness en route to Lewis. Robert Gibb back home reminded me of a couple of blokes deserving a visit in Ullapool. It was a bit early for a tune when we got to the cemetery (we were booked on the 9:30am ferry) but I imagined saluting them with a mortal version of an MSR. Here are the gravestones of both these great pipers:
A mostly smooth crossing of the Minch and we were there: Lewis. This is where it all changed for me in 1988. An end of course elective at Stornoway allowed me a couple of months where I was able to study under the late Iain Murdo Morrison. Thereafter his tuition extended for well over a decade, sending me tapes which are treasured to this day.
I was able to visit his widow Flora at Back and meet his daughters. At his graveside I played an overdue tune for him, the Prince’s Salute, the second tune he gave me. [See top picture.]
I rejoined John for our western ‘loop’ tour of historical sites during which we met James Duncan Mackenzie, another pupil of Iain Murdo’s. We shared our admiration for the great man.
The next day was Sunday…not much happens on Sunday in the Hebrides and fair enough. You can feel the serenity.
Back to the mainland staying at Glenurquhart where my friends Lachie and Rory McCabe had strong connections. Then on to Oban where the weather was stunning, and the piping even better.
Sadly we were too late to hear Greg Wilson’s ‘Phantom Piper’ but pleased to see the Kiwis enjoying themselves. What an astonishing ‘system’ they have to produce such numbers of quality players. As Greg told me last winter, ‘teach, teach, teach!’
Finally to ‘Castle Craig’ to catch up with Jason [Craig] and ‘marathon’ Monica, who were also hosting Jono Quay prior to the dreaded trip home. Beauddie. Back for the Donald MacLeod next year!
A superb digital book of pipe music… click on pic to order
Order by clicking on picture…
It was great pleasure in meeting Alastair again who had with him John Cutler. The first time I encountered Alastair was at the Nairn Games and he was a stranger to me and my late brother Hugh. Alastair was wearing distinctive head gear and it looked like a ‘ten gallon hat, which for me indicated that the wearer was an American chap. Shy as I am, I decided to speak with the ‘American’ as he was on his own, and Hugh and I approached and asked who he was, indicating that he was a good bit from home. He responded in an Aussie accent – so my assumptions were wrong (quite usual actually!). This was seemingly during his visit in 2004. I cannot recall how the tunes went that day but this guy by his playing knew what he was doing. He later played in the Silver Medal at Inverness and from memory acquitted himself well. I cannot recall the details of the tunes played. Alastair told me an amusing story about an encounter he had in Glasgow purchasing a new pipe chanter reed. Requiring to try it out he found a large car park near the Ibrox area, the home of a football club. He went to a remote corner and took the bagpipe and commenced to try his new reed. Things were going quite well when out of the corner of his eye he saw a young lad approaching and was of the thought he was to have a small audience to hear his tunes. Being mannerly, Alastair ceased playing and spoke to the young fellow welcoming his attention. The young lad, obviously in Glasgow vernacular, said, “My father says if you don’t stop that racket, he will come and shove that things up your a….’ Quite the welcome to Scotland!
Alastair’s recent report on having visited Lewis and the grave of Iain Murdo Morrison was interesting. I knew Iain as he and I were about similar ages and played in the Under 18 competitions at the Northern Meeting, Iain being the most successful, and, from memory, playing in a very striking, motivating way. Later in life we did meet from time to time as he was stationed at Bridge of Don Barracks.
Saw the band in Perth and I thought you were great. Have a couple of good clips Well done