History of the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band – Part 2

In 1925 contests took place at Grangemouth, Kirkcaldy, Bathgate, Dundee, Leith and Markinch, with the Clan MacRae continuing their successes. The most significant result for P/M Willie Fergusson (left) and the band was at Cowal, where they emerged as World Champions, winning the Argyll Shield ahead of their 1924 rivals, Millhall, with MacLean third and the 7th HLI fourth. Although the band did not repeat their Cowal World Championship win…

Bowhill Games Results

This games (Sept 10) has now superseded Pitlochry as the last Highland games of the Scottish season. The weather was dry and settled. Piping organiser Greig Canning writes: The games were started by local man Don Campbell (the handicapper for many a games on the circuit) and I added some open piping events in 2022. This year was the first we’ve had junior piping. Lochgelly High School pipe band marched…

Pitlochry Games Results (Juniors added)

Very warm with the occasional shower at the final games of the summer at Pitlochry in Highland Perthshire. The new Piobaireachd competition sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society attracted a wide field of pipers and was hailed a great success. The entry was larger than at any time in the last 20 years. A very large crowd also attended. Open Piob1 Dr Peter McCalister, The Fingerlock2 Angus MacPhee, I Gave a…

The History of the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band – Part 1

Farquhar MacRae (1859-1916), winner of the Gold Medal in 1898, was a member of the (Blythswood) Highland Light Infantry (3rd Volunteer Battalion HLI) from the 1880s and for many years thereafter he was pipe major.  Towards the end of 1908 this battalion was renumbered, becoming the 7th Volunteer Battalion HLI.  That year, at Cowal Games his band placed fifth in the Argyll Shield Open Competition (World Championship), just one example…

Review: The Northern Meeting 2023

All the excitement of top class piping competition was contained neatly in Eden Court Theatre and its environs for the 2023 Northern Meeting. The NM committee and staff could not have been more welcoming, putting nervous pipers, inquisitive visitors, doddery judges at their ease the moment they stepped through the theatre’s glass doored maw. The bar prices were reasonable too so people were more inclined to hang around chatting in…