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…