Category: Letters

Editor’s Notebook: Reid Letters/ Festival Contest/ Tony Lightfoot/ MacLellan Contest/ Piping Live March

Posted on      by      2 Comments

Comparisons are odious as they say, but it is a habit in which we pipers just can’t help indulging. For example, Robert Reid jnr., we read this week, believed Malcolm Macpherson a better player than the Bobs of Balmoral. I don’t suppose we’ll ever know. The ‘Binneas’ recordings of Malcolm are very poor and I know of no others of him. There are good recordings of RB Nicol and RU…

More Editor’s Notebook: Reid Letters/ Festival Contest/ Tony Lightfoot/ MacLellan Contest/ Piping Live March

My Father, P/M Robert Reid – Part 3

Posted on      by      1 Comment

We continue with our correspondence from Robert Reid jnr. to Jimmy McIntosh. This abridged letter is dated July 1994. There are comments about RG Hardie, the firm of RG Lawrie, the Piobaireachd Society, John MacDougall Gillies, William Connell, John MacDonald, Inverness, and RU Brown and RB Nicol who, he reveals, went to his father for lessons…. Bob Hardie to my knowledge never was employed by Lawries. Hardie was an apprentice…

More My Father, P/M Robert Reid – Part 3

Ireland North and South: Terry Takes VP Job/ Warnock Documentary/ Tullylagan Book/ Kenny Crothers/ Innovation in Cork

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

At a recent Irish Pipe Band Association National Executive Committee meeting it was decided to appoint a Vice-President to assist President Con O’Conaill. The NEC are very aware that an officer might not be able to fulfil his/her public duties at any given time.  The name of Pipe Major Terry Tully was proposed by Brian MacMahon and seconded by Johnny Sheehan and Terry was unanimously elected by the NEC to…

More Ireland North and South: Terry Takes VP Job/ Warnock Documentary/ Tullylagan Book/ Kenny Crothers/ Innovation in Cork

Editor’s Notebook: Yardley Medal/ Silver Chanter/ MacDougall’s House/ Luss, Bute & Annan Contests

Posted on      by      2 Comments

Reader Phil Meyer has been in touch from Tasmania. Phil writes: ‘I  am a descendent of George Yardley and was wondering if the attached medal [front and back above] has any value from an insurance point of view? ‘George was my great-grandfather on my grandmother’s side so I have never met him. In fact I believe neither my father or his two sisters actually met him either. I will see…

More Editor’s Notebook: Yardley Medal/ Silver Chanter/ MacDougall’s House/ Luss, Bute & Annan Contests

My Father, P/M Robert Reid – Part 2

Posted on      by      1 Comment

We continue with our articles based on the letters sent by Robert Reid Jnr. to Jimmy McIntosh from 30 years ago. This excerpt, dated 28th July 1993, confirms Reid senior’s reputation for brusque assertiveness, a characteristic clearly passed on to his son….. Dear Mr McIntosh, Re the cassettes, I would much prefer to have control over the recording of the existing tapes myself. My father and I spent a great…

More My Father, P/M Robert Reid – Part 2