Category: History

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

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

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…

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

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

Posted on      by      1 Comment

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,…

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

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

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

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…

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

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

Posted on      by      2 Comments

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…

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

Donald Morrison Archive: King George and Bob Brown and an Impromptu Rendition of Lament for the Children

Posted on      by      4 Comments

This is the second part a letter, a copy of which Donald held in his papers. It was from Seton Gordon, is dated January 5, 1973, and was to Col. John McEwing, a piping enthusiast in the US and the man responsible for so much good work in the Pacific North West. He was the original director of the Coeur d’Alene Piping School in Idaho where Donald taught. Seton Gordon…

More Donald Morrison Archive: King George and Bob Brown and an Impromptu Rendition of Lament for the Children