Donald Morrison Archive: The Frost of Suspicion Before John MacDonald Arrives on South Uist

We conclude this story on the revival of the piping tradtion on South Uist. This is from the archive of the late Donald Morrison. Readers might like to refresh the memory by reading the first part of this anonymous article here. Given that this excerpt mentions the ‘late’ John MacDonald, Inverness, it must date from the late 1950s or 60s. P/M MacDonald is pictured above in a rare photograph taken…

Editor’s Notebook: John Weatherston/ Band Inactivity in Scotland/ Piob Soc Recital/ Dystonia Plea/ Duncan and the Prince

Thanks to Yves Tison for this picture of P/M John Weatherston. Yves writes: ‘Further to your excellent Piping Press article on Red Hackle pipe band, I have found in my photos an old pic of Pipe Major John Weatherston at the Festival de Cornemuse in Brest, Brittany, in August 1969.’ Good picture Yves. Jock was in the habit of wrapping a sweat-catching handkerchief round his neck. The joys of piping…

Argyllshire and Lochaber Gatherings Prove There is No Substitute for Live Piping

Three days of ‘live’ piping. Yes, you read that correctly. You don’t know what you have until it is gone and this week’s gatherings reminded us all of what we have been missing. There was a genuine sense of relief, freedom, exuberance among the pipers at Oban and Fort William. And we listeners were able to enjoy our favourite music without transmission technology and its homogenising barrier. By Robert Wallace…

Oban’s 150th Anniversary Games Complete Results (updated)

A reduced games was held today at Mossfield Park, Oban. There were piping events for ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade March and Strathspey & Reel and Open Jig, with prizemoney similar to previous years. Thirty seven pipers entered, 21 in the ‘A’ grade and 16 in the ‘B’. During a break in proceedings AG piping convenors Jamie Mellor (l) and Torquil Telfer took time to present the College of Piping Trophy…

Donald Morrison Archive: Notes on the Introduction of Teaching of Piping to South Uist

This very interesting, but unattributed article is from the archive of Donald Morrison. It gives an insight into the history of piping in the Outer Isles and in particular South Uist. It is not by Donald himself but mentions his father Donald John Morrison. Canon Alexander MacDougall was a native of Morar and died there on 10th December, 1944, at the age of 85 years. His first parish in the…