Jimmy Jackson was born in 1941 in the village of Jamestown near Balloch on Loch Lomondside. He was the fourth generation of James Jackson or ‘MacFhiachair’ as the family’s surname was known in their native Argyll. His grandfather, an Ardrishaig man who had been a Pipe Major in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was a contemporary of John MacColl and a good friend of Pipe Major William Lawrie of Ballachulish. His…
I am not sure everyone appreciates how hard it is to produce a piobaireachd to a high professional standard. At last weekend’s Scottish Pipers’ Association contest, there were 22 competitors, all of them first class pipers. Some play in world championship winning bands; others have won major solo awards. Yet of those I heard we really only had four tunes which reached the level described in my opening sentence. There…
The annual junior competition run by the Kintyre Piping Society was held today in the Seafield Hotel, Campbeltown. The picture above shows the main winners and their trophies. Results: Under 15 yrs 2/4 March First Bobby Allen Second Joshua Reilly Third Andrew Renton Under 15 yrs S&R First Bobby Allen Second Joshua Reilly Third Murray O’May Ground of Piobaireachd Under 15 First Matthew McKerral Second Murray O’May Third Andrew Renton…
The annual professional competition run by the Scottish Pipers’ Association was held at the College of Piping in Glasgow today. There was a good entry in all categories. The picture above shows the main winners with their trophies: l to r – John Dew, Gordon McCready and Cameron MacDougall. The young man with the overall trophy and the big grin is Gordon’s son Innes: Results: Piob: 1 Cameron MacDougall, Old…
After 51 unbroken years the Silver Chanter MacCrimmon Memorial Piobaireachd Competition will not go ahead this August. Funding cuts by the William Grant Foundation have meant that the organisers, the Skye Piping Society, have found it impossible to continue with the prestigious event. The Foundation, who funnel the bulk of their £150,000+ funding for piping through the National Piping Centre, intimated two years ago that they were cutting back. The competition/recital was…
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