Category: History

A Glasgow Taxi, A Stolen Set of Pipes and a Lucky Coincidence

Posted on      by      3 Comments

Around 1975/6 I was building a house in Bridge of Weir in Renfrewshire, a few miles west of Glasgow. To generate money to finance this project I decided to drive a Glasgow taxi for a couple of years as I was told that it was a very well paid occupation at that time if you worked hard. I sat the topographical test (known among London cabbies as ‘the Knowledge’) and to my amazement…

More A Glasgow Taxi, A Stolen Set of Pipes and a Lucky Coincidence

Lochaber Juniors/ Donald MacLeod Memorial

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Lochaber Piping Society’s annual youth piping and drumming competition was held on Saturday, March 23, in the Gaelic Primary School, Caol, Fort William. Adjudicators were P/M Alistair Duthie, Jon Don MacKenzie, Moira Robertson, P/M DJ MacIntyre and Brian Graham (drumming), writes Ken Cameron, President. We had 60 entries across fifteen classes and the total number of individual performances was 134. While the number of contestants was encouraging, comment has been…

More Lochaber Juniors/ Donald MacLeod Memorial

Letter on Alistair Campsie Book/ RSPBA Calendar/ Gordonstoun Trip

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

I do sometimes wonder about those writings on piping where the ‘shop window’ is so immensely off-putting that we never look further at the goods behind it, writes reader David Livingstone. The writings of Alasdair Campsie on the MacCrimmons and the pibroch settings of Simon Fraser immediately spring to mind. It is clear that the MacCrimmons existed and were eminent and respected pipers, but everything we currently know and take…

More Letter on Alistair Campsie Book/ RSPBA Calendar/ Gordonstoun Trip

Editor’s Notebook: Johnstone Pipe Band/ 1923 Clasp/ John MacColl/ DJ Contest/ Colin’s Pipes

Posted on      by      1 Comment

We appreciate P/M Keith Bowes senior forwarding this picture of the Johnstone Pipe Band. It features Pipe Major Craigie Calder, author of the recently reported tape featuring information on Bob Reid and a short excerpt of John MacColl’s playing. Keith tells me that the band was formed in 1943 during WW2 its purpose being to march Home Guard units round the town raising morale and money. Those in the picture…

More Editor’s Notebook: Johnstone Pipe Band/ 1923 Clasp/ John MacColl/ DJ Contest/ Colin’s Pipes

A New Tune for Major John M. Allan MBE

Posted on      by      4 Comments

Earlier this month, seven former pipers from the Queen’s Own Highlanders visited Major John Allan MBE at Castlehill Care Home, Cradlehall, Inverness. The purpose of the visit was to present John, now 89, with a new piobaireachd as a thank you for all that he did for those Army pipers who had the good fortune to attend the various courses run at the Army School of Bagpipe Music (ASBM), Edinburgh…

More A New Tune for Major John M. Allan MBE