BY JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE.
The Uist and Barra competition for 2025 will be held on March 1st at the National Piping Centre, Otago Street venue. One hundred years ago there was no Uist and Barra competition so instead we are looking back to the competitions of 75 years ago and 50 years ago. This was a time when the competition was open to all, so the number of competitors was larger and the standard more varied.
75 YEARS AGO
Professional Piping Competition
On April 8th, 1950, the Oban Times reported: “For me, and several hundred others, Saturday was a day of Piping – yes, with a capital P – for the Uist and Barra Professional competition was on in the Institute from early afternoon till late evening. The entry of 12 competitors may sound somewhat small but considering the importance of the occasion, I thought it was very good. There are, of course, many more than 12 first-class pipers within travelling distance but it is better that the number should be small and of the best than to have a long list bolstered by those not in the premier class.
“We heard some wonderful playing, and the judges Pipe Major John Maclean, late of the Scots Guards and Mr Malcolm Johnston, Edinburgh, had a very difficult task. By winning the Piobaireachd and Strathspey and Reel Piper John Garroway of Glasgow Police was awarded the Pipe Major James Johnson, DSM, MM trophy.
“A feature of the day was the excellence of the playing of young John Burgess, the Edinburgh schoolboy, now competing with great success among the older men.
“Mr John MacLellan, past president of the Uist and Barra Association, in introducing the chairman, Pipe Major William Gray, said how honoured they were to have such a notable figure in the piping world with them. Pipe Major Gray won the Gold Medal at Oban in 1909 and since then has won most of the premier piping awards. In his, Mr MacLellan’s opinion, Pipe Major Gray was the greatest living authority on piping today, and it was hoped that the results of his researches into both music and playing would soon be published for the benefit of all. Pipers in all parts owed a very great deal to Pipe Major Gray for the distinction and dignity he has brought to piping and his example will remain as an inspiration to all.
“Of course, the Pipers’ Club was closed for the evening as I think all the members were at the competition. On Saturday of this week the Pipers resume their meetings in the Minerva Club and juveniles and amateurs should remember that their entries for the competition in the High School on Saturday April 22nd have to be in by Monday April 10th.”
The results were:
Piobaireachd
- John Garroway, MacLeod of Raasay
- Donald MacPherson, Big Spree
- John Burgess, MacIntosh’s Lament
- Donald MacLean, Seaforth, My King has landed in Moidart.
March
- Peter Bain, Mrs John MacColl
- John Burgess, Bonnie Anne
- Donald MacPherson, Blackmount Forest
- Peter MacFarquhar, Argyllshire Gathering.
Strathspey and Reel
- John Garroway, Caber Feidh, Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
- Peter Bain, MacBeth, Lochiel’s Away to France
- John Burgess
- Donald MacLean, Seaforths, Blair Drummond, John MacKechnie.
On April 14th, 1950, the Stornoway Gazette and West Coast Advertiser reported: “The annual professional piping competition held under the auspices of the Uist and Barra Association in the Highlanders’ Institute was well attended by the public, though the entries were somewhat down this year. The first prize winner in the Ceol Mor was John Garroway of the Glasgow Police Pipers, and scoring the highest aggregate marks, he was also the winner of the James Johnson Trophy.”
John Garroway was born in 1908 at Chelsea Barracks in London, where his father was serving with the Scots Guards. He learned piping from the age of eight at the Caledonian Schools in London. He worked for a time on farms in Peebleshire then in 1932 he joined Metropolitan Police in London then transferred to the Glasgow Police in 1937, becoming a piper in the band. After retirement he became the full time piping instructor at the College of Piping from June 1969 onwards. He only competed during the years 1946 to 1953 and again in 1968 but won the Argyllshire Gathering March in 1947, the Strathspey and Reel in 1948 and the Northern Meeting March in 1949, the Strathspey and Reel in 1952 and the Former Winners MSR in 1968. He had the distinction of being placed second in the Gold Medal six times. He died in Glasgow in 1976.
Peter Bain was born in Ross-shire in 1910 but brought up in Skye. He served with the Scots Guards from 1927 and was Pipe Major from 1941, with the Holding Battalion, then 4th Battalion then 2nd Battalion until 1945. He won the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in 1934 and at the Argyllshire Gathering in 1946. After the war he left the army and settled in Glasgow. He died in 1975.
John Davie Burgess was born in Aberdeen in 1934 but grew up in Edinburgh. He was taught originally by his father then by James Gordon then by PM William Ross. He served for three years with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders 1952-55 then in 1955 joined the Edinburgh Police and was Pipe Major in 1956. He was Pipe Major QOH TA 1963-65. He later played with the Invergordon Distillery from 1965 then became the schools piping instructor for the area. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Gold Medal in 1950, the Strathspey and Reel in 1951 and the Former Winners in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1962 and the Open in 1972. At the Northern Meeting he won the Gold Medal and the Strathspey and Reel in 1950, the Former Winners 1951 and 1956 and the March in 1953. He made several recordings and was awarded the MBE in 1988. He died in Inverness in 2005.
William Gray was born in Glasgow in 1883. His father was from Dornoch and his mother from Mull. In 1903 he joined the Govan Burgh Police and became a member of the band under PM Hutcheon. In 1912 Govan became part of Glasgow so the band became the Glasgow Police. From 1916 William Gray served as Pipe Major, 2nd Bt Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. In 1919 he returned to the Glasgow Police, and was appointed Pipe Major of the band. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Gold Medal in 1909 and the Open in 1913, 1919 and 1921. In 1919 he won the Medal at the Northern Meeting. In 1920 he was one of the founder members of the Scottish Pipers’ Association and in that same year he led the band to win the World Pipe Band Championship. In collaboration with DM John Seton of the Police band, another ex-Argyll, Willie produced a Tutor and Collection of Music in 1922 and a Collection of Music, also dated 1922. Willie was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1928 and in 1933 he retired from the police. After retiring Willie to live in Islay for a time then returned to the mainland to live at Cardross. He died in Dumbarton in 1962.
50 YEARS AGO
In 1975 the Uist and Barra contest was held at the beginning of March in the Kingston Halls, with a very big turnout of competitors and audience. According to the Piping Times: “The standard of playing unfortunately was a bit below what we have come to expect from professionals in Glasgow, although maybe the long cold winter had something to do with this. The march playing was the best of the day, with several rousing renderings well worthy of a place at any contest. According to the judges, the weakest part of the day was strathspey playing, and even in the short leet this was only too evident. As one knowledgeable critic said, ‘Any piper who played a decent strathspey could have won this event, even if he forgot to play the reel’.”
The results were:
Piobaireachd
- Andrew Wright, Lament for Mary MacLeod
- Malcolm McRae, Earl of Seaforth’s Salute
- John Burgess, Lament for Donald of Laggan
- Murray Henderson, Lament for Captain MacDougall
- Donald Morrison, Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay.
March
- Hugh McInnes
- Iain MacFadyen
- Ian McLellan
- Kenneth MacDonald
Strathspey and Reel
- Ian McLellan
- Arthur Gillies
- Robert Barnes
- William J Morrison
Jig
- John Burgess
- Iain MacFadyen
- Hugh McInnes
- Robert Barnes
The judges were Roderick MacDonald and Fred Morrison for piobaireachd, and Duncan Johnstone, Robert G Hardie and Sandy Macpherson for the light music.
The Stornoway Gazette had a much more positive report: “Glasgow’s Paisley Road is one of the busiest approach routes to or from the city centre. Last Saturday it was somewhat busier than usual. Admittedly the Rangers – Hearts clash at Ibrox was a contributory factor, as was to be expected, but further in there was another important meeting in the Kingston Hall which for a marathon twelve hours kept capacity audience enthralled.
“Yes, I am referring to the Annual Piping Competition of the Uist and Barra Association – a competition that over the years has become one of the most important in the piping world. For any Association to sponsor such a competition is an act of faith and of all the Associations best qualified to do such a thing, the Uist and Barra, with its strong links with piping, must be the obvious.
“To sustain and maintain such a competition, however, calls for more than faith – it calls for a great deal of preparatory work and organisation and, at the end of the day, the visible support of, firstly those who wish to compete and, secondly, those who wish to listen. Happily all those prerequisites were found to be not wanting and the end result was a truly memorable competition from which the Association and office bearers can take nothing but credit.
“Presiding over the marathon proceedings was Mr Alex Kennedy, who is president of the Glasgow Highland Club, and who congratulated the Association on continuing to sponsor this annual event.
“Judging the Piobaireachd were Messrs Fred Morrison and Roderick MacDonald. In this competition there were thirty five entries and thirty competitors. For the March, Strathspey and Reel and Jig competitions there were thirty seven entries and thirty four competitors and here the judges were Messrs Sandy MacPherson, Duncan Johnstone and Robert Hardie.
“The prizes were presented by Mrs John MacPhee and the vote of thanks accorded by Mr Joseph MacDougall.
“Two men in particular shouldered most of the responsibility for the smooth running of the day’s proceedings, Mr Ronald Morrison, a past president of the Association, who acted as Convener, and Mr Joseph Wright, the Chief Steward, whose job it was to ensure that each competitor was at the right place at the right time.
“It is also worthy of mention that the day’s proceedings were economically viable – a most heartening state of affairs in this era of what one might term ‘loss leaders’.”
The Uist and Barra was in the news again when the Aberdeen Press and Journal reported on March 6th: “A former Pipe Major with Aberdeen City Police Pipe Band, Constable Donald Morrison, is waiting anxiously for news of a 70 year old set of bagpipes which disappeared while he was taking part in a competition in Glasgow last weekend. Mr Morrison, one of the world’s leading pipers, has treasured the pipes for their fine qualities since he acquired them in 1969. They have helped him win many major competitions, including in 1973 the Bratach Gorm, the chief award at the annual contest of the Scottish Piping Society. And their disappearance from a room in the Kingston Hall, Paisley Road, during a Uist and Barra Association competition, has come at a particularly inconvenient time for the Aberdeen policeman who lives at 13 Deevale Road, Kincorth. He has been honoured by the Piobaireachd Society, Edinburgh, who have asked him to play next month. Said Mr Morrison, who belongs to South Uist: ‘I have another set of pipes, but they are not of the standard that would be needed for this occasion. I would have to try and borrow a set from another piper, and that is not easy.’ Mr Morrison said that the pipes had been stolen when he was only a few feet away in the main hall. Glasgow police are investigating.”
A champion piper from Aberdeen has the blues – and that champion of Scottish nationalism, General Idi Amin, has a lot to do with it.
The Press and Journal had the same report but the Evening Express brought Idi Amin into the story: “PC193 Pipe Major Donald Morrison of the Aberdeen City Police Pipe Band and one of the world’s leading pipers, had his pipes stolen while attending the Uist and Barra competition in Glasgow. And because General Amin’s Uganda won’t export the wood needed for making pipes, Donald’s £300 set of pipes is virtually irreplaceable.
“At first Donald, who belongs to South Uist, thought that a friend had taken the pipes, thinking that he had left just before the competition ended. But now, three days later, he is convinced they have been stolen.
“Donald has had them since 1969, and has won most of his major competitions with them. In 1973, for instance, he won the Bratach Gorm, the chief award at the Scottish Piping Society’s annual competition.
“Donald said: ‘The problem is that I can’t get a new set of pipes, because the wood is not available. They have started making new plastic pipes, but they are no use.’
“Donald has another set of pipes, but they are nowhere near the quality of the stolen set. And he has been honoured, for the first time, by being asked to play a selection at the Piobaireachd Society in Edinburgh next month. All Donald wants is his pipes back – he is even willing to accept them without prosecution.”
Bagpipes turn up in the pawn
There was good news on March 12th: “Aberdeen policeman Donald Morrison’s lament turned to a reel of joy last night when Glasgow police traced his set of premier bagpipes, stolen and later left in a pawn shop. ‘I am delighted. They are apparently intact,’’ commented Mr Morrison, a constable with the city force, and a native of South Uist.”
Andrew Wright was born in Govan in 1936. He started piping with the Boys Brigade then had tuition from Peter MacLeod Snr and Jnr 1954-58, then Donald MacLeod 1964-82, and R B Nicol 1970-78. He played with Red Hackle then did National Service as a piper with the Royal Scots and played again with Red Hackle afterwards. He won both Gold Medals in 1970. By profession he was plant manager in a Woollen Mill. He died in 2022.
Hugh McInnes was born in Glasgow in 1949 and was taught by Eddie McLellan. He was Pipe Major of Toyota, British Caledonian Airways and Scottish Power. He won the Strathspey and Reel in 1975 and the March in 1987 at the Northern Meeting, and the Strathspey and Reel in 1975, the March in 1976 and the Former Winners in 1982 at the Argyllshire Gathering. He died in 2002.
Ian McLellan was born in Clydebank in 1937. He began piping with the 214BB then played with the Renfrew pipe band. He did National Service with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1958 to 1960 then joined the Glasgow Police in 1962. As Pipe Major of the band he won the World Championship twelve times. After retirement in 1992 he was a partner in The Band Room. He won the March at the Argyllshire Gathering in 1965 and the Former Winners in 1968. At the Northern Meeting he won the March in 1970.
Donald Morrison was born in Locheynort, South Uist in 1927. He was taught by the Smith family of Howmore and later by R B Nicol and R U Brown. He served with the Merchant Navy for a time after the war, before joining the Aberdeen Police in 1952, becoming Pipe Major of the police band. He won the March and the Strathspey and Reel in 1955 and the Gold Medal in 1961 at the Northern Meeting. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Strathspey and Reel in 1955. He died in Aberdeen in 1988.
