Category: History

History: P/Sgt John Maclean, Scots Guards, the 1930 Northern Meeting and a Tribute to Mary Queen of Scots

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I was interested in the Piping Press article (6th Sept. Donald Morrison Archive) regarding the Northern Meeting piping competitions 1930, which mentioned my father John Maclean (North Uist). Only minor error in the newspaper’s report was that my father was in fact Pipe-SERGEANT, not Pipe-Major. He was later Pipe-Major 2nd Btn. HLI. In the Gold Medal he, like Nicol, played Cille Chriosd (Glengarry’s March). His fellow Guardsman, Malcolm ‘Baggy’ MacMillan was…

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The Progress of the Pipe Band and the Importance of Learning from History

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In any organisation it is always good practice to study its history before attempting to make changes or further develop its structure, policies or procedures.  History has a habit of repeating itself on a cyclical basis, so it is always worth considering the background to previous decisions to avoid repeating previous mistakes.  It is also always worth considering whether seemingly new ideas have actually been tried before and failed.  The…

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Editor’s Notebook: MFD/ Sherriff Pipers/ ‘Royal’ Games/ Duncan and the Prince/ Hector’s Book/ Round the Games

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Final word on MFD. Clive Douglas believes there should be a formal recognition of the condition and a warning about over-zealous, obsessional practice. Clive writes: ‘l’m not sure if you could ever stop the condition appearing in a person, but I do think there is a set of circumstances that should probably be avoided. ‘I wonder if there’s a place for some education in this area through the Piping Centre,…

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Picture Poser Solved/ Solo Contest Round Up: Bratach, Captain John, George Sherriff

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In reply to yesterday’s photograph poser, Donald Mackay, Pipe Sergeant of Scottish Power, was first out of the blocks. Donald writes: ‘This photo was taken in 1999 out in Pakistan. ‘The Pipes and Drums of the 1st Btn The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons & Camerons) were out taking part in Queen’s Birthday celebrations all over the country. ‘The band played at various engagements and functions in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore and…

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Editor’s Notebook: Identify Army Photo/ Donald Morrison Archive/ Miscellany/ SPBA 1938/ MacCrimmon’s Curse

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I found this smart photograph in the PP archive the other day. Can anyone properly identify the pipers, their rank, their regiment and the occasion on which the photo was taken? Obviously somewhere in the tropics. Hong Kong maybe? Donald’s Archive Seona MacDonald has written re the latest articles from her father Donald Morrison’s archive: ‘Thank you so much for providing additional information on dad’s archive material. ‘Your most recent…

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