Clan MacRae Photo/ Scots Guards KO Line-Up Announced/ Mod Piping

Reader Matthew Farrigan: In regards to correspondence back in April this year about a photo of the Clan MacRae winning the Worlds, I guess I was correct regarding the young chap centre holding the trophy was in fact Bob Burnett.  Big thanks to Iain Duncan’s part three History of the MacRae and the photo ID for confirming. I ran into Bob’s son Robbie a couple weeks ago at the local…

History of the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band – Part 3

It is believed that Hamish McColl MM was Pipe Sergeant when Willie Fergusson retired and he was unanimously appointed Pipe Major. McColl held the position for 18 months, a relatively short tenure, but maintained the competition standard.  For reasons unknown, he moved to the Rutherglen Rechabites band and was replaced in the MacRae by John Findlay Nicoll.  He continued the band’s incredible success and emulated Pipe Major Fergusson’s famous 1920s…

All Ireland Solo Piping & Drumming: News, Results and Comment

This competition was held last Saturday (Sept.16) in a school in Lusk, north of Dublin. It was very well attended by pipers and drummers from both the north and south of Ireland, writes the Editor. Hosts were the Irish Pipe Band Association. They share responsibility for the contest with the RSPBA Northern Ireland. IPBA President Con O’Conaill announced at the prize-giving that he was standing down after 47 years service….

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…

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…