by JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE
Pipe bands in the Army date from around 1850 and non-army bands such as the Govan Police and Edinburgh Police first appeared in the 1880s. The Inveraray Pipe Band was in existence by 1890 and was probably one of the first civilian bands in the Highlands.
The band was founded by Lord Archibald Campbell (1846-1913) who was the second son of the 8th Duke of Argyll, younger brother of the 9th Duke and father of the 10th Duke. The band’s uniform was modelled on that of the Argyll Fencibles of 1745: Campbell tartan kilt and plaid with large shoulder brooch, dark green tunic with white facings and brass buttons, glengarry with boar’s head crest, regulation sporran with six white tassels, red and white diced hose, white gaiters, white belts, claymore, dirk and sgian dubh.
In 1896 Lord Archibald took the band on a four day tour of Oban, Staffa and Iona, including appearances at the Argyllshire Gathering and other events. The entire band was taken by rowing boat into Fingal’s Cave, Staffa where they played, afterwards carving their names on the wall of the cave with their dirks and sgian dubhs. At the Argyllshire Gathering the band headed the procession to the Games field.
The band members in 1896 were Pipe Major Charles Maitland, pipers Peter C Maitland, Kenneth Dunn, Malcolm Dunn, Daniel Kerr, John Kerr, Donald MacPhedran, Duncan MacPhedran, Duncan Ross, Ernest Smith, Robert Stewart and drummers John MacArthur, Henry MacIntyre and Archibald MacNab. The Pipe Major, Charles Maitland (1862-1947) was a native of Inveraray and a master plumber by trade. Pipers Duncan and Donald MacPhedran were sons of John MacPhedran and his wife Isabella MacKenzie. Bella was a relative of John Ban MacKenzie and a well-known character in the district. She was said to have been a better piper than her husband. She had six sons, among them Duncan born 1866 and Donald born 1870.
In 1897 the band again attended the Argyllshire Gathering when the customary procession was headed by Lord Archibald Campbell and preceded by the Inveraray Pipe Band. Also present was the band of the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow.
The band was not at the 1898 Gathering when their absence was keenly felt but they were back again in 1899. That year a grand Gaelic Concert was held on the evening preceding the Games, under the Presidency of Lord Archibald who was resplendent in full Highland garb. Each half of the concert began with a performance by the Inveraray Pipe Band, described as Lord Archibald’s bodyguard, who made a brave show in full regimental Highland dress with handsome and highly decorative bannerettes bearing the Campbell device pendant from the pipes. The following day the procession to the Games field was led by the band with Lord Archibald at its head. At the Games Lord Archibald was accompanied by his wife Lady Archibald Campbell and his daughter Miss Elspeth Campbell.
The following year the band took part in an event of another kind when they led the procession at the funeral of Lord Archibald’s father the 8th Duke of Argyll. They were followed by the pipe band of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the bands of the Boys Brigade and the Volunteers.
In 1901 the band were again in the news when they played at the Glasgow Exhibition where their performances were well received.