Duncan Mac is the driving force behind the 150th anniversary tributes and the Tik Tok page for John McLellan DCM. He contacted bagpipe.news recently to give updates on the progress of the tributes planned for 2025, and interesting facts about tunes played at the Worlds in 2024.
The Cowal Gathering committee are planning a major tribute in support of John McLellan DCMs upcoming 150th Anniversary in 2025. The Clyde Coast Strathspey and Reel Society also have plans to have a special 150th anniversary medley of some of his popular and not so well known tunes.
The most popular Tik Tok video featured on the John McLellan DCM Tribute page are the Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band playing an excerpt of The Bloody Fields of Flanders at last years Worlds with almost 10,000 video views. The Tik Tok account has almost 300,000 video views to date with the videos mainly featuring John’s music, information and related content.
Inspired by the recent excellent article by Jeannie Campbell MBE about the Tunes played at the 2024 Worlds, Duncan did some research on John McLellan DCM tunes played at the 2024 Worlds finding that there were at least eight played by various pipe bands in the different grades. The tunes were:
- Men of Argyll
- Campbeltown Kiltie Ball
- Glen Caladh Castle
- Kirstie McCallman’s Favourite
- Lochanside
- The Lads of Kilmarnock
- The Taking of Beaumont Hamel
- The Cowal Society
Duncan added: “I thought that was impressive. Especially as the St. Thomas Alumni Pipe Band from Houston, Texas seemed to play Lochanside at every opportunity at the Worlds.
“John’s tribute Tik Tok page continues to get lots of followers and heaps of video views – which is great!”