The Australian Ladies Pipe Band – The Definitive History Part 2

In December 1925, New Zealand officials cabled their Australian counterparts asking whether there were any objections to granting passports to the band members so they could proceed to Canada and elsewhere. Australia responded that passports should not be issued unless there was evidence of parental permission for the under-age members of the band.  By Jeannie Campbell Furthermore, each musician would have to pay a £50 repatriation bond as surety in…

Half Set MacDougall, Aberfeldy, Highland Pipes and Sets of Smallpipes for Sale

Captain Will Carter: ‘I was fascinated by Jeannie Campbell’s recent feature story on Duncan MacDougall of Aberfeldy. Thank you for your excellent online newsletter.  ‘I have a rare set of half-sized pipes made by Duncan MacDougall of Breadalbane somewhere between 1887 and the early 1890s before he moved to Aberfeldy, methinks. ‘The nickel silver and ivory are in near perfect condition as are all the sticks and stocks, bar one that…

Worlds Bounces Back With Strong Entry and Interest from Around the World

The World Pipe Band Championship has staged a full recovery from the dark days of the pandemic. 190 bands have entered for the competition to be staged at Glasgow Green on August 18 and 19. Last year, still covid-affected, there were 147. Whilst the 190 figure is about 30 bands short of the record of a few years ago, officials at promoters Glasgow Life and the RSPBA are ‘delighted’ with…

The Australian Ladies Pipe Band – The Definitive History Part 1

I have read the various stories on Piping Press concerning the Australian Ladies. According to newspaper reports, on their arrival in Glasgow on Thursday, August 26th, en route to Cowal, the band was welcomed at the station by 42,000 enthusiastic citizens and the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band, the champion band of Scotland, under their P/M William Fergusson, which played them to their hotel. Membership of the band was restricted…

My Father, P/M Robert Reid – Part 4

We continue with our correspondence from Robert Reid jnr. to Jimmy McIntosh. This abridged letter is dated 28th September, 1993. In the firing line are Alastair Campsie, Andrew MacNeill, Colonsay, and William Connell…. I can’t recall any article being written specifically about my father other than obituaries in the Piping Times, the Glasgow Herald, Daily Record and the Oban Times around August/September 1965. Occasionally some journalist would come into my…