Category: History

Major John M. Allan MBE 1934-2024

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The death has been reported of Major John Allan MBE. He passed away peacefully at Castlehill Care Home, Cradlehall, Inverness. He was 89. Major Allan (Queen’s Own Highlanders) was Director of Army Bagpipe Music from 1981–1990. Only last week his former graduates at the school presented him with a tune as a thank you for all he did for them during their time at the Army School then based in…

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Major Gordon Rowan Retires as Director, with the Army School Forging Ahead

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Major Gordon Rowan is due to retire as Director of Army Bagpipe Music in May. Yesterday he oversaw his final Pipe Major’s Course passing out. He can be proud of his very well schooled candidates At the bench were myself, Pipe Major Gordon Walker and Callum Moffat, the new Director of the Army’s Cadet Force Pipes and Drums, writes the Editor. Seven pipers played. They had to submit six 6/8…

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

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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…

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Lochaber Juniors/ Donald MacLeod Memorial

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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…

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Letter on Alistair Campsie Book/ RSPBA Calendar/ Gordonstoun Trip

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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…

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