Category: Letters

Editor’s Notebook: Northern Meeting 1903/ Donald’s Fingers/ Tartan Week/ Gourock Contest/ Vic Herman

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New York based piper Yahya Hussein has been in touch regarding the 1903 photograph from the Northern Meeting. He writes: ‘After studying the photo for several days now, and finding the lists of the competitors for the 1903 Gold Medal, here is what I have. ‘It’s the best I could do unless the original photo has a list of the players on the back. Front rank from the left: ‘Andrew MacDonald, brother of John MacDonald,…

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History: Cowal Gathering Programme from 1947 Reflects SPBA Dispute

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I have recently acquired a copy of the Cowal Highland Gathering programme from 1947, writes Trevor Clydesdale. The dispute between the Gathering’s organisers and the then Scottish Pipe Band Association was in full flow and it is interesting to note that no band names for the Cowal World Championship were shown in the programme. Presumably this may have been due to the uncertainty over entries with threats of bans for…

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Editor’s Notebook: PS Conference/ NI Bands/ D.R. MacLennan’s Pipes/ Missing Trophy

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A week from now we will have the first Piobaireachd Society Conference since 2019. It can be difficult to re-kindle enthusiasm after so long a gap, easy-option Zoom meetings making us all lazy and complacent. But the benefit of human contact and a face to face welcome cannot be underestimated, and the Conference has been part of the furniture in the piping world since as far back as many can…

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The Day Willie Fergusson Met the Australian Ladies

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Further to our reports of a week or so ago on the Australian Ladies, Clive Douglas has sent us the following tale. The Ladies are pictured above outside Burns’ Cottage during their 1926 visit. Clive writes: The well known Glasgow piper and teacher Eddie McLellan told the story that Willie Fergusson was a sign writer by trade. One day he was working on a shop front sign on Buchanan Street…

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Editor’s Notebook: Highland Games Threat/ Trophy Search/ Oban Festival/ Dollar Contest/ Sandy Jones

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This from a prominent Highland games organiser: ‘On the CPA judge/pupil pronouncements that have lately been made, has anyone raised the problems this causes for competition organisers? ‘How are games committees, expected to be able to attract decent player numbers, or to maintain their ‘local’ feel, when they may not be able to use local piping adjudicators because they then wouldn’t get local competitors? ‘How can they afford to import…

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