We have another photo query that we hope readers can help with. This one was sent to us by an ancestry researcher who writes: “Have you any idea who this is? It is one of the random pictures that an online genealogy company uses when sending out its weekly updates. This one caught my attention.”
The castle in the background looks like Eilean Donan in Lochalsh, Scotland. It’s probably the most photographed castle in Scotland other than Edinburgh Castle.
We can only hazard a guess that it was taken within the last decade or so as the piper has a bag with a zip at the side.
Any thoughts? Contact us in the usual way.
The virtual Cowal Highland Gathering kicks off this Thursday (August 27) and it includes a tribute to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, Dunoon (pictured).
‘Jock’, as he was known, composed so many outstanding pipe tunes such as Lochanside, The Highland Brigade at Magersfontein, The Bloody Fields of Flanders, The Taking of Beaumont Hamel, Road to the Isles, Kirstie MacCallman’s Favourite, Southall and so on.
One sometimes forgotten fact about MacLellan is that at the turn of the 20th century, after leaving the army he joined the Govan Police Pipe Band for a time. This band was, of course, the forerunner of the Glasgow Police Pipe Band. Jock also painted, wrote poetry, played the fiddle and whistle and in later life taught piping in and around the town.
The tribute is titled ‘The Lads of Argyll’ and features the playing of Argyll pipers Stuart Liddell, Angus McColl, Alistair Henderson, Daniel McDermott and Willie McCallum playing. Organisers also promise a memorable Salute to the Chieftain.
Cowal’s Virtual Gathering will run on its Facebook page and YouTube channel from Thursday to Saturday. For more details go to: www.cowalgathering.com
Four two-part strathspeys have been added to the RSPBA’s list of Prescribed Tunes.
They are: AA Cameron’s Strathspey, Clementina’s Strathspey, The Oyster Wives’ Rant and Miss Jackson.
The full list can be found HERE.