By JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE
The order of play for the R.G Hardie & Co. Masters Solo Piping Competition at Piping Live! tomorrow, August 11, 2025 shows 21 pipers, playing 21 different marches by 16 different composers. Top of the list by number of tunes is John MacColl with four of his tunes being played. Next come William Lawrie and Roddy Campbell with two tunes each, followed by G S McLennan with one tune plus the 3rd and 4th parts of another. The other 12 composers have one tune each although Duncan MacDonald is only responsible for two parts of his tune.
In order of play the tunes are:
Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society by Roderick Campbell.
The Scottish Pipers’ Society was founded in Edinburgh on 21st November 1881 with the especial objects, firstly, the encouragement of bagpipe playing amongst gentlemen, and secondly, the general advancement of the study of the Great Highland bagpipe and its appropriate music. Many of the founder members were either army officers, had association the Highlands or were of Highland families. The members were strictly amateurs and the society held competitions among its members. The society also supported other competitions, by presenting prizes for all levels of competition, both amateur and professional. Their prestigious Silver Star is well known. Many members of the society have judged at the top events over many years. The Prince of Wales, (later Edward VIII and then Duke of Windsor visited the Society in 1935 and played a few tunes with the assembled members. Eighteen months later, in 1937, the secretary received information that ‘His Majesty the King had been graciously pleased to accede to the request of the members of the Society for the privilege of using the title ‘Royal’ prefixed to the name of the Society which will henceforth be known as The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society.’ To mark the centenary a History entitled The First One Hundred Years was published.
•Roderick Campbell was born in 1873 at Loch Broom. He was Piper to Count de Serra Largo, Tarlogie, Tain, Ross-shire, then in 1911 Piper to Col Scott, Draycott House, Derby. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Gold Medal in 1908 and the Open in 1910. Roderick left Derby some time after 1912 and before 1917 when he settled in Edinburgh where he was employed by the North British Rubber Company at Fountainbridge. In addition he was a reedmaker and teacher. He died in Edinburgh in 1937.
Duchess of Edinburgh by Duncan Ferguson.
Prince Alfred, 1844-1900 was the second son of Queen Victoria. In 1866 he was given the title Duke of Edinburgh. In January 1867 the Duke left England for a visit to Australia. The piper accompanying him on this tour was James Forbes Farquharson who was born in 1845 at Strathdon, and taught by Duncan Campbell, Donald Cameron and John Ban MacKenzie. Farquharson studied medicine at Aberdeen, then became piper to the Duke of Edinburgh 1865-1900 and afterwards was a King’s Messenger until 1918. At the Northern Meeting he was 2nd for Piobaireachd and 2nd for Strathspeys and Marches in 1868, 2nd for Piobaireachd in 1872, and 1st for Strathspeys and Marches in 1874. He died in London in 1935.
Marie Alexandrovna of Russia was born in 1853, the sixth child and only surviving daughter of Tsar Alexander II. She was the younger sister of Alexander III of Russia and the paternal aunt of Russia’s last Tsar Nicholas II. In 1874 she married Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Victoria and Albert. J. F. Farquharson played at the banquet given by the Tsar to celebrate the marriage. One of the exhibits in the College of Piping museum was a large pocket knife with an engraved plate reading ‘J. F. Farqhuarson (sic) from HRH The Princess’.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh had one son and four daughters. For the first years of their marriage they lived in England, but she never adapted to the British court or overcame her dislike for the country. She accompanied her husband on his postings as an admiral of the Royal Navy at Malta (1886–1889) and Devonport (1890–1893). She travelled extensively through Europe and visited her family in Russia frequently. In 1893, Alfred became Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on the death of Prince Albert’s elder brother as Alfred’s older brother the Prince of Wales had given up his place in the succession to the Duchy. The Duchess enjoyed life in Germany, where she became active in cultural endeavours and charitable work. Her son died in 1899 and her husband in 1900 and was succeeded as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha by his nephew. In widowhood, Marie continued to live in Coburg. On the outbreak of World War I she sided with Germany against her native Russia. Many of her relatives, including her brother Paul and her nephew Nicholas II, were killed during the Russian Revolution, and Marie lost her considerable fortune. After World War I, the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha ceased to exist in November 1918. Marie died in 1920 while living under reduced circumstances in exile in Switzerland.
According to the internet, the Marie biscuit was created by the London bakery Peek Frean in 1874 to commemorate the marriage of the Grand Duchess Marie of Russia to the Duke of Edinburgh.
•Duncan Ferguson was a native of Killin, Perthshire, and well known as a composer in the 1870s and 1880s. The best two tunes ascribed to him are Parker’s Welcome to Perthshire and The Duchess of Edinburgh.
Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band by Roderick Campbell.
The Edinburgh Police Pipe Band claimed a connection with the Edinburgh Municipal Band going back to 1882 when pipers formed part of the group which then had a drum section drawn from the Gas and Transport departments. In about 1890 under Chief Constable Captain Henderson the band was re-organised as the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band and wore the Royal Stewart tartan.
Other accounts state that the idea of a band was discussed at a meeting of the Lord Provost’s Committee of the town council and in February 1882 it was recommended that a band should be formed. Initially the Band was not a Pipe Band, but a Military or Brass Band, but at the same time a Corps of around eight Pipers was also created, which was led for around seven years 1883-1890 by Pipe Major Constable A Findlay.
A concert at the Waverley Market on Saturday 2nd June 1883 is the earliest record of a public performance. The Edinburgh City Police Pipers played 4 sets and met with a cordial reception. A performance in September 1889 was perhaps the first occasion when seconds were played, ‘The pipers of the Edinburgh police force presented a comparatively new feature in bagpipe instrumentation. It had been maintained by some that a duet on the bagpipes was almost an impossibility, and others equally firmer asserted that if such a feat were practicable it was undesirable in the interests of public sanity. That both views of the case were utterly wrong was clearly demonstrated on Saturday evening, when six muscular Celts, each equipped with the national instrument paraded the round of the market twice, and gave an exhibition of deft duet playing that threw many well-known skilled pibroch players into a condition of unmitigated satisfaction. The experts stated that the Green Hills of Tyrol played as a march, could hardly have been better executed, the time and effect being excellent.’
By May 1890, the Police Pipers had a new Pipe Major, Constable Alexander Hamilton, a native of Caithness. In 1900 a new Chief Constable of Edinburgh was appointed, Roderick Ross, from Sutherland. He revived interest in the Edinburgh City Police pipers who were re-organised under PM Norman Graham and re-equipped with Ross tartan, in honour of the Chief Constable, having previously worn the Royal Stewart. Graham continued as Pipe Major until his death in 1910. He was succeeded by his pipe sergeant Hugh Calder, from Assynt in Sutherland who had joined the Police in 1900. He made changes in order to make the band fit for competition. After only two years the band won the civilian contest at Cowal in 1912 and again in 1913. After the War the Cowal Gathering resumed in 1919. The Open Contest for the World’s Championship was won by the Edinburgh City Police led by PM Supt. Hugh Calder. The band also won the Civilian contest. After the successes of 1919 Hugh Calder relinquished his position of Pipe Major and Alexander Anderson was in charge until he retired in 1923. He was followed by Alexander Henry who then retired in 1930. William Sutherland then took over briefly but after a year he too retired after thirty years’ service. In 1931 Hance Gates (1891-1979) took over. He retired as Pipe Major in 1942. Duncan Cameron (1903-1987) was Pipe Major 1942 to 1949 when Donald Shaw Ramsay (1919-1998) took over from 1949 to 1957.
Under the leadership of Donald Shaw Ramsay the Band secured its second World Championship title at Dundee in 1950, followed by another win at Aberdeen in 1954. He was shot while on duty in 1957 and forced to retire as a result of his injuries. A young Constable stationed at Leith Police Station took over. He was John D Burgess (1934-2005) and was in charge of the band for only one memorable season before leaving the Police Service at the end of 1958, having led the Band to victory at Cowal Games and the British Championships, as well as a top three finish at the World Championships. Iain McLeod (1931-2017) was appointed Pipe Major from 1959 in succession to John D Burgess. He was Pipe Major of the Police Band from 1959 to 1976 and led them to World Championship wins in 1963, 1964, 1971 and 1972. As a result of regionalisation, the name of the Band was changed in May 1975 to Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band, and the Band won the World title again in that year at Corby, under the new name. Iain McLeod remained with the Band for one more season thereafter. The band continued with pipe majors Harry McNulty (1976–1982), Colin Forbes (1982–1984), George Lumsden (1984–1988), Duncan Smith, Les Watson, Kenneth McBride, Colin MacLellan (1999–2004), Keith Dawes (2004–2006), David Barnes (2007–2009), Ian Duncan (2009–2011), Neil Hall (2011–2012) and John Fraser (2013). The band was officially dissolved on 31st March 2013 when a single Scottish police force was established.
•During the time Roderick Campbell was living in Edinburgh the Pipe Majors were Hugh Calder and then Hance Gates.
Pap of Glencoe by William Lawrie.
The Pap of Glencoe is a mountain on the northern side of Glen Coe, in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies at the western end of the Aonach Eagach ridge, directly above the point where the River Coe enters Loch Leven. The Pap is so named as it has a distinctive conical shape, especially when viewed from the west. It is clearly seen in the view of the entrance to Glen Coe.
William Lawrie was born in 1881 at Ballachulish. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Gold Medal in 1910. At the Northern Meeting he won the Gold Medal in 1910 and the Clasp in 1911. He was Piper to the Earl of Dunmore and Piper to Col MacDougall of Lunga. During 1911 and 1912 he ran a school for piping at Benbecula. He joined the Volunteer Batt A & SH about 1900 at Dunoon and was appointed PM 8th Batt A & SH TA 1912. He went to France in 1915 as Pipe Major of the 8th Argylls. The Colonel at the time was John Campbell of Kilberry. As a result of illness contracted in the trenches he was invalided to England where he died in hospital in 1916. He is remembered as the composer of many great tunes and if he had lived there would probably have been many more.
Argyllshire Gathering by John MacColl.
The Argyllshire Gathering was founded in 1871 following the wedding of Queen Victoria’s daughter Louise to the Marquess of Lorne, heir to the Duke of Argyll. The tune was composed some time later by Argyll piper John MacColl (1860-1943). The County families still gather every year and on the day of the Highland Games the Chieftain and the members and stewards of the Gathering march from Argyll Square, to the games field led by the competing pipers. The last tune played on entering the field is the Argyllshire Gathering.
•John MacColl was born in 1860 at Kentallen in Duror. In summer 1877 John heard Donald MacPhee play at Bonawe Games, and was inspired to emulate him. He took a job at Bonawe quarry until he had saved enough to take him to Glasgow where he worked with MacPhee and was able to learn from him. By 1879 Donald MacPhee was seriously ill and he died in 1880 so John returned to Argyll. In 1879 he played at the Lorn Ossian Games and in 1880 he played at the Argyllshire Gathering. In 1881 he was Piper to MacDonald of Dunach. By 1891 John was able to support himself by competing in piping, dancing and athletics, with some teaching during the winter months when he was employed by the army to teach the TA pipers. In 1908 he returned to Glasgow where he became the manager of R G Lawrie’s bagpipe shop. He won the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in 1883 and the Clasp in 1884, 1888 and 1900 and the Strathspeys and Marches in 1882. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Confined Strathspey and Reel in 1880, the Confined March in 1881, the Gold Medal in 1881, the March in 1890, the Strathspey and Reel in 1883, the March Championship in 1892, the Strathspey and Reel Championship 1893, the Open equal first 1901 and 1st 1902. He died in Glasgow in 1943.
Major Manson at Clachantrushal by Donald MacLean, Lewis.
David Manson was born in 1867 at Cromarty. He enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders in 1887 and served for seven years. He emigrated to Canada in 1895 where he worked as a customs officer and served with the 5th Regt Militia (Royal Highlanders of Canada), being Pipe Major from1897-1907. In World War One he re-enlisted in September 1914, giving his year of birth as 1872 and served with the Canadian Infantry as Pipe Major from February 1915 to October 1917 in France. He was commissioned Captain and Quartermaster and rose to Major. During the 1930s he visited Lewis where he became a friend of PM Donald MacLean of Lewis. He spent some time in Glasgow where he became an active member of the Scottish Pipers’ Association, supporting events and serving on the committee. After the Second World War he returned to Glasgow for several years during which he attended many piping events, becoming a popular figure of the local piping scene. Major Manson was closely associated with the College of Piping in its early years, serving as a vice-president from 1944 until he died. After his return to Canada in 1948 he continued to take an active interest and to improve relationships between the two countries. During his time in Glasgow he is said to have worked as a silversmith in association with the bagpipe makers, Peter Henderson Ltd, making silver mounts for bagpipes and silver for sporrans, sgian dubhs, cap badges, shoe buckles, belt buckles and kilt pins. The Reel Major David Manson by Peter R MacLeod, and Major Manson’s Farewell to the Black Watch of Canada by Donald Sutherland were also named for him. Major Manson died in Canada in 1959.
The tune was first published as sheet music by the College of Piping in 1954.
•Donald MacLean was born in 1908 at Ballantrushal, Lewis. He joined the Seaforth Highlanders in June 1926 and was appointed PM in 1936. He served in Egypt, Palestine and France and was captured in 1940 at St Valery. He took over the Scottish Command School of Piping in 1946 then went to the Highland Brigade training school 1947-48. He retired in 1948 with 22 years’ service. He was piper to Sir Edwin de Winton Wills, Glenlyon pre 1953 then manager of the piping department at R G Lawrie’s 1953-64. He won the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in 1953. He was President of The Scottish Pipers’ Association in 1957 and 1958. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the March in 1949 and the Gold Medal in 1951. He died in 1964 when attending the Cowal Games.
MacLean of Pennycross by PM Archibald Ferguson.
Charles Alexander Hugh MacLean DSO 5th of Pennycross was born on 26th November 1874, son of Archibald MacLean and Isabella Alexanderina Simon. He was educated in Edinburgh, Bonn in Germany and RMC in Canada. He joined the 48th Highlanders of Toronto in 1892 then transferred to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1895. He was with the second battalion on the NW frontier of India and on the staff in Gallipoli and Egypt during World War One. In Gallipoli casualties in action and by disease took a heavy toll of the pipers of all the battalions, and after a few months on the Peninsula the pipe bands temporarily ceased to exist. Even before the withdrawal of the force from Gallipoli it was found that so many casualties had occurred among the pipers of the battalions engaged that the bands were well on the way to extinction. Facing a long and dreary winter it was decided that entertainment was needed to keep the men cheery so it was decided that a military and a pipe band should be raised. Consequently under the able management of Colonel Maclean of Pennycross, an accomplished piper himself, a divisional band numbering twelve pipers and six drummers – all that remained was organised out of the wreck of the pipe bands of the 52nd Division. The band included many good players under the leadership of PM William Fergusson of the 1/7th HLI. That band, though never sent into action, individually or collectively played frequently under shell fire but suffered no further casualties. MacLean was awarded the DSO in 1918 and Legion of Honour and retired as an honorary Brigadier General in 1923. He was a good amateur piper and composed the tune The Lads we left in Gallipoli. In 1927 he married Dorothy Mary Hermione Alston at Bromley in Kent. He died on 19th September 1947 in Devon aged 72. The march was originally published as Lieut. C MacLean Younger of Pennycross’s Welcome to the 93rd, was composed for him by PM Archibald Ferguson when he joined the battalion as a Lieutenant in 1895. It is now known simply as MacLean of Pennycross.
•Archibald Ferguson was born at Kingarth of the Isle of Bute on 14th May 1871, the sixth of nine children. His parents, Archibald Ferguson 1827-1898 born at Morvern in Argyllshire and Janet Milligan 1838-1911, born in Rothesay had married at Rothesay in 1858. There was a company of the Argyll and Bute Militia on the island, and there may have been other pipers locally, so Ferguson may have had tuition before he enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in about 1885, serving in India until 1903. By 1893 when he was 22 years of age he had risen to become the Pipe Major of the 2nd battalion, a position he held until 1903. When on furlough from India in 1898 he assisted in teaching the Kilberry pipers. On his return from India Ferguson was based in Paisley where he became Pipe Major of the 4th Militia Battalion of the Argylls 1903 to 1907. On 12th March 1907 he and a friend visited Maryhill Barracks. Early in the evening he left his friend in the Sergeants’ Mess saying he would be back in a few minutes but he was not again seen alive. His body was found on 27th March in the Forth and Clyde canal, near lock 25 at Glen Road, Maryhill on the outskirts of Glasgow. He was aged 35 and unmarried. His body was taken back to Bute and interred in Kingarth cemetery with military honours. A party of thirty non-commissioned officers belonging to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ depots at Stirling and Paisley, along with four regimental pipers, accompanied the remains, which were landed at Kilchattan Bay about midday. A large company of the friends of the deceased attended, and the cortege made its way slowly to the churchyard, a distance of nearly two miles, to the strains of the pipes. The Rev Mr Jeffrey, of the United Free Church, conducted the service at the grave, after which the pipers played Lochaber No More. The military were under the command of Captain Williamson, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ depot at Paisley.
Lord Alexander Kennedy by James Honeyman.
Lord Alexander Kennedy (1853-1912) was the second son of Archibald Kennedy the 2nd Marquess of Ailsa, a title created in 1831 for the 12th Earl of Cassilis. The Marquess was the chief of the Kennedys and his estates were in Ayrshire. Lord Alexander, a keen amateur piper, served with the 42nd Black Watch as a Major and was later Lt Colonel of the 3rd Battalion. When the 42nd were at Malta Lord Alexander went on leave to the Holy Land and on his return was greeted with the tune Lord Alexander Kennedy’s Farewell to Gethsemane composed by James Honeyman. The title was later shortened to Lord Alexander Kennedy.
•James Honeyman was born at Falkirk in 1837 and served with the Black Watch, rising to the rank of Pipe Major. After retiring from the army he worked in the Carron Ironworks. He died in 1906.
Mrs Duncan MacFadyen by PM Donald MacLeod.
Mrs Duncan MacFadyen was Effie or Euphemia Beaton before her marriage in 1924 to Duncan MacFadyen. Her death was reported as follows in the Piping Times July 1988. ‘Last month the Highland and the piping community in Glasgow was saddened to hear of the death of Mrs Duncan MacFadyen, mother of the famous piping brothers. A native of Mull she had come to Glasgow where she played a prominent part in the Highland community there. Four of her sons became professional pipers and three of them – John, Duncan and Iain – won Gold Medals at both Oban and Inverness. She was 86 years of age and had survived her husband by two decades. On a bright sunny afternoon she was laid to rest beside her husband in Craigton Cemetery, attended by a very large crowd of relatives and friends.’
Her husband’s death had been reported in the Piping Times in May 1962.’ The sudden passing at his home on Thursday morning, 12th April, of Mr Duncan MacFadyen is a blow from which piping in Glasgow will not quickly recover. Although Mr. MacFadyen had been indisposed for a week or two, his death was quite unexpected and shocked piping and Highland circles throughout Scotland. Mr MacFadyen, although domiciled in Glasgow for many years, was a native of Mull, and was intensely proud of his Highland heritage. He was a very active member of the Govan branch of An Comunn Gaidhealach, and was the guiding power behind the Scottish Pipers’ Association in recent years. A competent piper himself, he more than achieved the ambition of most piping parents by seeing his family become experts in the piping field. His four sons, John, Hector, Duncan and Iain, are all well known professional players, and his daughter Freena is one of the best lady pipers of her time. Nothing could have given him greater pleasure than the many times when he saw the five of them play together in the St Andrews Halls, Glasgow, at the Annual Mull and Iona Gathering. His well known burly figure will be greatly missed wherever pipers foregather, and many of us feel that we have lost not only one of the hardest workers for piping but a very fine personal friend as well. The funeral to Cardonald cemetery was attended by many hundreds of pipers and Highlanders, and in fact was the biggest Highland funeral in the city for many years. Five pipers, Hector MacFadyen of Pennyghael. Seumas MacNeill, Ronald Lawrie, Norman Gillies and Peter MacFarquhar played the Flowers of The Forest. The ground of the Lament for the Children was played over the open grave by Ronald Lawrie, pipe major of the Scottish Pipers’ Association. The sympathy of pipers everywhere is extended to Mrs MacFadyen and her family.’
•Donald MacLeod was born in Stornoway, Lewis in 1916. His first teachers were his father and John Morrison Assynt House, followed by William Ross and then John MacDonald, Inverness for 25 years. He joined the Seaforth Highlanders in 1937 and was Pipe Major 1941-63, at the Depot 1941-42 then 7th Seaforth1942-46. He was captured with 51st Highland Division but escaped and rejoined the regiment. He was with the 9th Training Batt 1946-47 then Instructor Highland Brigade and Depot 1948-57 and Highland Brigade and Junior Soldiers wing 1957-62. After his retirement from the army he settled in Glasgow and became a partner in Grainger and Campbell Bagpipe Makers. At the Northern Meeting he won the March in 1947, the Strathspey and reel in 1949, the Gold Medal in 1947, the Clasp eight times in 1948,1949,1952,1955, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964 and the Former Winners in 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1959. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Gold Medal in 1954, the Open in 1953, 1957, 1961, the March in 1959, the Strathspey and Reel in 1957 and the Former Winners in 1959 and 1961. He won the Jig at the Northern Meeting ten times, six of them with his own compositions. He made many recordings and published six books of mainly light music, containing many of his own compositions and one book of his own piobaireachd compositions. He died in Glasgow in 1982.
Braes of Castle Grant by Duncan MacDonald and G S McLennan.
Castle Grant stands a mile north of Grantown-on-Spey and dates from the 15th century. It was originally named Freuchie Castle but was re-named Castle Grant in 1694. The surrounding area is known as the Braes of Castle Grant.
The title Earl of Seafield was created in 1701 for an Ogilvy of the same family as the Earls of Airlie. The male line died out in 1811 on the death of the 4th Earl of Seafield and the title passed to Sir Lewis Alexander Grant of Grant whose grandmother was a daughter of the 2nd Earl. Cullen House was the Ogilvy family seat. The Grant family seat was Castle Grant. The Grant Earls of Seafield seem to have lived mainly at Cullen House while still retaining their properties at Castle Grant. Sir Lewis, born 1767, became the 5th Earl. He died unmarried in 1840 and his brother Colonel Francis William Grant became the 6th Earl. He died in 1853 and was succeeded by his son John, born 1814 who became 7th Earl. The Earl’s brother James born 1817, later the 9th Earl was probably the Hon. James Grant who judged at the Northern Meeting in 1869 and their brother Lewis, born 1820, was the Hon. Lewis Grant who judged in 1852, 1855, 1859, 1860 and 1862. The Earl of Seafield was a judge in 1859. The 7th Earl died in 1881 and was succeeded by his son Ian, the 8th Earl, born in 1851, who died unmarried in 1884. His uncle James then became the 9th Earl. He died in 1888. His son Francis the 10th Earl died in December 1888 only six months after his father’s death. His son Captain Sir James Ogilvie Grant 11th Earl of Seafield, born 1876, was in action at Ypres in 1915 in temporary command of the 5th Camerons when he was severely wounded. He died on 12th November 1915 aged 39 from the wounds received in action. Pipe Major William MacLean, Cameron Highlanders composed the piobaireachd Lament for the Earl of Seafield for him.
The Earls of Seafield employed several pipers over the years. John Smith was piper to Hon Colonel Grant from 1822 and continued in his employ after he became Earl of Seafield. John Smith was based at Cullen House. He was described as John Smith late Piper to the Earl of Seafield in the Northern Meeting report of 1842.
Alexander (Sandy) Cameron competed at the Northern Meeting in 1846 and 1847 as Alexander Cameron, piper to Lord Seafield; In 1854 the competitors included John MacLennan the Earl of Seafield’s piper and Alexander Cameron, piper to Mr Malcolm of Poltalloch; Competitors in 1862 aand 1863 included Andrew Gordon, Piper to Lord Seafield. In 1864 the competitors included Duncan Macdonald, piper, Braes of Castle Grant and Andrew Gordon, piper to the Earl of Seafield. Andrew Gordon, piper to the Earl of Seafield was listed again in 1865, 1866 and 1868. In 1877 and 1878 competitors included Lewis Grant, piper to the Earl of Seafield. Lewis Grant was based at Castle Grant. Andrew Gordon was piper and butler to the Earl at Cullen House. He may be the Andrew Gordon, retired butler who was living in Forres in 1881.
•Duncan MacDonald was born in 1830 at Balmacaan, son of Alexander McDonald and Mary Chisholm. Duncan’s brother Alexander was piper to MacPherson of Glentruim then piper to the Earl of Fife. He was father of John MacDonald Inverness, and Andrew MacDonald. Duncan’s brother William was Piper to the Prince of Wales and composer of Leaving Glenurquhart. Duncan was taught by Duncan MacKay piper to Duke of Leeds and Donald Cameron. Duncan was Piper to the Earl of Seafield but was probably employed at Castle Grant or on the estate there, as Andrew Gordon was at Cullen House. Competitors at the Northern Meeting in 1893 and 1896 included Duncan MacDonald, piper to The Mackintosh but he may have been a different man.
Although the tune composed by Duncan MacDonald had only two parts the published tune in G S McLennan’s collection has third and fourth parts by G S McLennan and this is what is usually played. Another version in the John MacColl collection has third and fourth parts by John MacColl.
Inveran by G S McLennan.
Angus MacPherson was born at Laggan in 1877, son of the famous Calum Piobair MacPherson. On leaving school he became a clerk in the railway service but soon gave this up. During the summer months he competed at the Highland Games in piping and dancing. During the London Season in the spring he ran a school of dancing for ladies and gentlemen in Sloane Street, London and the winter months he spent at home, until in 1897 he went into private service as piper to Charles Murray at Lochcarron.
In 1898 Angus was asked to become piper to the Carnegies at Skibo Castle, following his brother John, and he stayed with them for seven years. The Carnegies entertained a lot, so Angus played or danced for many distinguished guests. During the winters Angus accompanied the family to New York. In 1905 Angus married Alice Gertrude Ross and set up in business at Newtonmore as a house agent and organised the lets and supplies for shooting lodges in the area.
In 1914 the Carnegies offered him the tenancy of the Inveran Hotel so for the next thirty-five years Angus was a hotelkeeper, until the Inveran Hotel burnt down in 1949. After the fire Angus and Alice retired to Achany House a few miles up the river Shin. In 1969 Angus received the MBE in the honours list. Angus was still playing the bagpipe at the age of ninety-eight. He died in 1976, when only two months away from his ninety-ninth birthday.
•George Stewart McLennan was born in Edinburgh in 1883, son of Lt John MacLennan. He enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders in 1899 and was appointed Pipe Major in 1905. He served through the First World War and was discharged in 1922, after which he had a bagpipe and reed making business in Aberdeen. At the Northern Meeting he won the March in 1903, the Strathspey and Reel in 1904, the Gold Medal in 1905 and Clasps in 1909, 1920 and 1921. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the March in 1903, the Strathspey and Reel and the Gold in 1904. He died in Aberdeen in 1929. Many of his compositions are published in his own Collection and the two volumes of the Gordon Highlanders Collection.
Angus Macpherson first met George S. McLennan in 1897 at the Highland Gathering at Stamford Bridge, London and this was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. When George first became ill there were hopes of recovery at one point, although it was to be only a temporary remission. After this bout of illness George went to stay at the Inveran Hotel with his friends Angus and Alice Macpherson in order to recuperate. G S and Angus’s son Malcolm became fond of each other and Malcolm would often blow the pipes for G S to play. As a thank-you for their hospitality, for which they refused payment, George composed the march Inveran for Angus and for Alice he composed the reel Mrs Macpherson of Inveran.
Brigadier General Ronald Cheape of Tiroran by PM William Ross.
George Ronald Hamilton Cheape DSO and Bar, 2nd of Tiroran was born in 1881. He served with the Black Watch and the Dragoon Guards during the Boer War and the Great War. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1915 for leading the successful counter attack to regain the Chateau of Hooge near Ypres from the Germans. He rose to be a Brigadier General commanding the 86th Infantry Brigade which was in the 29th Infantry Division, First Army British Expeditionary Force. He therefore commanded during a series of successful attacks and ultimately the breakthrough of the Western Front in 1918. Ronald Cheape was an amateur piper and often judged at the Argyllshire Gathering. He died in 1957.
•William Ross was born in 1878 at Camsorrie, Glen Strathfarrar. In 1896 he enlisted as a Boy in the Scots Guards. He served as a piper with the first battalion throughout the South African war, spending almost three years in Africa. In 1905 he became Pipe Major of the Second Battalion, a position he retained until 28th November 1917. At the Argyllshire Gathering he won the Gold Medal in 1907 and the Open in 1902, 1907, 1912, 1925. At the Northern Meeting he won the Gold Medal in 1904 and the Clasp in 1905, 1907, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919, 1923 and 1928. He went to France in 1914 and was invalided home in November 1917 and retired from the regular army in 1919. He then became the instructor at the Army School of Piping, a position he held until he retired in 1958. Between 1923 and 1950 he published five books of pipe music. He died in the Earl Haig home, Edinburgh in 1966.
Lonach Gathering by William Grant.
The Lonach Highland and Friendly Society was founded in 1823 by Sir Charles Forbes of Newe and Edinglassie 1st Baronet (1773-1849), with a commitment to the preservation of Highland garb and the promotion of social and friendly feelings among the inhabitants of the district. The current patron is Sir James Forbes, 8th Baronet. Lonach is noted for the march of the Lonach Highlanders. This would start early in the morning and go round the district, pausing at various places where refreshments would be provided. The date of the first gathering is unclear. The 1935 Gathering was reported as the centenary and the 2023 Gathering as the 180th.
The first newspaper account was in 1845 when in September that year papers said ‘Lonach Gathering. The annual meeting of the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society took place on the 15th inst. From the increasing prosperity of this excellent and benevolent institution, and the anxious preparation that had been made for the Games, an unusual interest was excited throughout the Strath in the proceedings of the day. The weather proving all that could be wished, people from all quarters crowded to the arena where the games were to be contested. Lonach the slogan of the Strathdon men, was raised at an early hour, and the trysting place, the Brig of Ernan, at the foot of Lonach was soon thronged with the members. At the summons of the bagpipe the Highlanders fell in, and having, in procession, paid their usual visits, the sports of the day commenced. The competitors for the different games were numerous, each of which, in the true Highland spirit of friendly rivalry was keenly contested. The prizes for the best Highland dancing, and the best dancer of Ghillie Callum, especially interested the numerous assemblage of spectators.’ The results of the athletic and dancing events followed but there was no mention of a piping competition.
•Pipe Major William Grant was born in 1888. He joined the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards in 1908. He was wounded during the first Battle of Ypres in 1914. He lost an eye and carried pieces of unrecovered ammunition in his body for the rest of his life. After recovery from his wounds, he served the Royal Household in Windsor, before returning north, eventually settling in Strathdon in 1930. Grant was employed on the Candacraig estate and soon became Pipe Major of the Lonach Pipe Band. He was a well respected teacher. He died in 1963. His compositions include The Lonach Gathering, The Doune of Invernochty, Falconer Wallace Esq of Candacraig, Monadh Gowan and Over the Lecht.
David Ross of Rosehall by Archibald MacNeill.
David Ross was born in 1891 and due to his father being killed in the Boer war he was educated in the Royal Caledonian School, a school which had produced many fine pipers. At the age of eight he began to learn to play the chanter under his instructor John Wallace, formerly of the Liberton School and CTS Empress. After he left school David received tuition from Donald MacKay of London who was winner of the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in 1902. Unfortunately MacKay was killed in a train accident in 1911, and from then until the outbreak of war David Ross received instruction from Pipe Major Willie Ross. In the army in France he came in contact with William MacLean. With the end of hostilities and the return to civilian life David Ross once again took up piping. He met Willie MacLean again and as a result of this arranged to go to Glasgow in the spring for instruction in piobaireachd. In the next ten years David travelled three times a year to Glasgow to study with Willie MacLean. Although not a prolific competitor at Highland games, mainly because he was domiciled in London, David Ross did attend the main competitions. In 1913 on his first visit to the Northern Meeting he won the March competition. In 1925 he won the Gold Medal at Oban and was placed first also in Strathspeys and Reels. In 1929 he followed this up by winning the Inverness Gold Medal. The Scottish Pipers’ Association annual professional competition was another one which attracted him fairly regularly, and in 1933 he won first prize for piobaireachd there.. The other first at Inverness, for strathspey and reel came in 1936, but the Clasp competition, eluded him. Once he had been placed fourth, once third, and twice he has taken second place in this event. Although living in London he was known as David Ross of Rosehall, but this was the home of his wife’s family. Apart from competitions David was an active worker for piping. He was always closely associated with piping interests in London, and for many years was Honorary Pipe Major to the Scottish Piping Society of London. His business, Messrs. Jones, Ross & Co, Ltd, of 20 Cheapside, London, E.C was responsible in 1935 for producing the Piper’s Souvenir Handerchief. This has John MacDonald, Inverness in the centre with 19 other pipers in a circle around him. Made from silk, the handkerchief has an ornamental border of Scots thistles, with a set of bagpipes in each corner. The price was 3/6d. A framed example was on display in the museum at the College of Piping. The Piping Times reported, ‘A minor sensation was caused at the Northern Meeting in 1963 when David Ross made a return to competition and was only narrowly beaten for first place in the coveted clasp competition. This veteran piper first competed at Inverness 50 years ago, before any of the other competitors at the event were even born.’ The result of the competition was: 1. PM John A MacLellan MBE, Queen’s Own Highlanders: 2. David Ross, Rosehall; 3. PM Donald MacLeod, Glasgow; 4. William M Macdonald, Inverness. David Ross died in London in 1982.
The tune was first published by the College of Piping as sheet music in 1955 and was later included in Seumas MacNeill’s first collection.
•Archibald MacNeill was born in Govan in 1879 but spent his early years in Gigha then the family moved to Rhu on the Gareloch. As a child he was able to see but from the age of ten his sight deteriorated until he became totally blind at the age of 21 and had to move to the Blind Asylum in Glasgow to learn brush making. He died in Glasgow in 1962. Later his memoirs were serialised in the Piping Times. His obituary from the Piping Times is repeated here as it gives a suitable account of his life. ‘The College suffered a grievous loss on 23rd October 1962 when Archie MacNeill died in the Royal Infirmary at the age of 83. For the last months of his life Archie had been suffering from a lingering illness but prior to that the major portion of his life had been devoted to piping. Few men had been so afflicted – blindness, the untimely loss of loved ones, the crippling of a hand- but few men had achieved more in their chosen sphere. As a competitor his blindness was a great handicap, but nevertheless he competed successfully many times. Not only did he have a terrific ear, he had playing ability equal to the best of his time and would have achieved all the honours in individual piping competitions if he could have seen to get around. His fingerwork was the art of perfection, and no other person knew better than he of the emphasis on clarity of gracenote construction to build up the competition piece. In teaching he found the greatest chance to express his talents, and there is no doubt that he had all the qualities which make a great teacher. When teaching he worked very hard, driving himself to encourage the best from the pupil. He was sparing in his praise, but he spared nothing else. He was always particularly interested in teaching young people from the beginning, and he found great pleasure during the many years he instructed the 139th Boys’ Brigade Band. In some way Archie inspired a loyalty in his pupils, greater perhaps than any other first class tutor had been able to do. Everyone, of course, believes that his own teacher is the best, but Archie’s top pupils were never taught by anybody else except Archie. He was not just a polisher of good pipers; he was a creator of pipers. As a composer his name will live forever. Many of his tunes show his original and experimenting mind, and it may be that some were composed before their time. His more orthodox compositions like Donald MacLean’s Farewell to Oban and David Ross (his own favourite) had within his lifetime taken their place among the popular competition pieces of the century. His beautiful waltz, The Gareloch, was played with seconds by many of his pupils. Piping was his main interest but he was a man who read widely on many topics. Ancient civilisations fascinated him and he read every book printed in Braille on that subject. His energy was such that in his eightieth year he was experimenting with metal drone reeds, using reeds made in London to his specification. When the College was founded his methods of instruction were used as the basis of the teaching syllabus. The College Tutor embodied many of his ideas. By his personal instruction he gave valuable inspiration during term time in Glasgow and at summer schools in Skye, Mull and Tiree. During the War his home at Royston Road became a rendezvous for Canadian pipers, who called first to give news of his son Alex in Montreal but returned for the piping lore and enjoyment they found there. Three times after the War he spent the summer in Canada, judging, teaching, and all the time enjoying himself thoroughly. It was a source of great happiness to him that his son was able to visit him in his last days. The funeral took place to Riddrie Park Cemetery on 26th October, a clear, sunny, bitterly cold day. Three young College pipers, Evan MacKay, Robin Bennett and Dugald Murdoch, played The Flowers of the Forest to the grave, and after the ceremony Thomas Pearston played the ground of His Father’s Lament for Donald MacKenzie, one of Archie’s favourite pieces. A large crowd of pipers and other friends, and representatives of piping associations and bagpipe firms, came to pay their last respects to a very fine piper and a very courageous man.’
South Hall by PM John MacLellan DCM.
Between 1710 and 1720 General Peter Campbell bought lands in Argyll and built the mansion house at South Hall. His descendants extended the estate over the next 200 years. The family had a strong military tradition. General Peter Campbell served with the Duke of Marlborough in France, his nephew, the next of the line, fought under the Duke of Cumberland. Colonel Duncan Campbell, 5th of South Hall, served in the Crimea.
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Parker Campbell, 6th of South Hall was born in 1851, son of Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Campbell, 5th of South Hall and Ellen Barcroft Parker. He married Alice Isabel Parker in 1877 and they had two sons and two daughters. After Rugby school and Sandhurst he was commissioned in the Black Watch and fought in the Egyptian Campaign in 1882 and fought at Tel-El-Kebir. He later became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Between 1914 and 1917 he sold South Hall. He died in January 1931. A 2/4 march Col E P Campbell of South Hall was composed by Donald Campbell (Greenock) and published in the second Cowal Collection.
Captain Duncan Campbell, elder son of Col E P Campbell, was born in 1880. After Rugby school and Sandhurst he too was commissioned in the Black Watch and fought in the Boer War 1900 -1902, the Northern Nigerian Campaign 1905 – 1910, with the West African Frontier Force and the First World War. He was killed in action at Festubert in 1915. He was unmarried.
The second son Captain Patrick Colin Campbell was born in 1889. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders on 3rd October 1914 and served in France from 10th March 1915. Having been seconded to the Royal Flying Corps he qualified as a Pilot in November 1915 and joined No. 28 Squadron on 24th February 1916. In October 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross. He was admitted to hospital on 25th October 1917 in Italy. On discharge from hospital he was assessed as fit for Home Service only and was transferred to the Unemployed List in 1919. He died unmarried in February 1931.
•John MacLellan was born in 1875 in Dunoon. In 1892 he joined the 71st, the HLI and took part in the South African war during which he was awarded the DCM. He left the army in 1903 and joined his brother Neil in the Govan Police and the pipe band under PM Alistair Hutcheon. John returned to Dunoon in about 1904 or 1905. In 1912 he joined the 8th Argylls (TA) and two years later was mobilised. The PM was George Ross then PM William Lawrie took over in 1915 but died in November 1916 and James Wilson was appointed PM. After the war John returned to Dunoon and worked as a painter. In 1919 he became Pipe Major of the 8th Argylls and continued as PM until 1930 when he retired. He was involved with producing the Cowal Collections and was the composer of many popular tunes. Through his association with the 8th Argylls John would have known Col Campbell of South Hall.John MacLellan died in Dunoon in 1949.
Hugh Kennedy by Peter R MacLeod.
Hugh Kennedy MA BSc was born in Tiree in 1908, son of Hugh Kennedy. The family moved to Glasgow where Hugh junior became a pupil of William Gray from the age of 11. He won many amateur and professional piping prizes including the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 1928. Hugh and his father, Hugh senior were both active committee members of the Scottish Pipers’ Association. Hugh Senior was a Vice-President of the SPA during the 1930s and Hugh junior was the Treasurer from 1931 to 1947 and doubled as secretary from 1940 to 1946. Hugh junior became a teacher at a school in Ibrox and also taught a piping class in the school.
•Peter Roderick MacLeod was born in 1878 at Uig on the island of Lewis but moved to Glasgow. He served with the TA from around 1900 and was pipe major of the 7th Cameronians Scottish Rifles during the 1914-18 war, serving in Egypt and Gallipoli. He was a shipwright from 1900 to 1914 and 1919 to 1927, but lost his right leg in an accident in 1927. He returned to the shipyards again from 1941 to 1955. Peter was a committee member of the Scottish Pipers’ Association and for many years was the official composer for the Association. He died in 1965 at Erskine Hospital.
Mrs John McColl by John MacColl.
Mrs John MacColl was Ellen Carruthers, born in 1863. The Carruthers family were originally from Dumfries and all the children had been born there but by 1881 they were living at the home farm on the Kilberry estate where Ellen’s father John was the farm manager. Ellen’s brother John was an excellent piper. By1891 Ellen was employed as a housemaid at Dunach, where her elder sister was the cook. A younger sister Jeannie was commemorated in the march Jeannie Carruthers. John MacColl and Ellen Carruthers were married at Dunach in 1894 and set up home at 9 High Street in Oban, where John had been living prior to his marriage. A few years later the family had moved to Kilbowie Cottage and in 1908 they moved to Glasgow. John and Ellen had two sons and two daughters.
Dugald McColl’s Farewell to France by John MacColl.
Dugald MacColl, born in 1895, was the elder son of John MacColl. During the First World War Dugald served with the medical corps and when he returned safely his father wrote the march for him. After the war Dugald worked at R G Lawrie’s as a bagpipe maker. He died in 1960.
John McFadyen of Melfort by John MacColl.
The subject of the tune was identified by Jim Robb in the Piping Times, June 2014. The village of Kilmelford is about 15 miles south of Oban at the head of Loch Melfort. John MacFadyen became the landlord of the Cuilfail Inn when aged 18 and remained as such until 1912. The inn was a stopping place on the road from Oban to Kilberry and John MacColl’s employer Mr N M MacDonald of Dunach accompanied by John MacColl, would often visit the Campbells of Kilberry. Later there would be visits to John’s wife’s family who lived on the Kilberry estate. According to the 1871 census the Cuilfail Inn had 12 rooms. The innkeeper in 1871 was John MacFadyen, aged 26 and born at Craignish. His wife Elizabeth was aged 32 and born at Scone in Perthshire. They had a daughter Jane aged 6 months and three servants.
Duke of Roxburgh’s Farewell to the Blackmount Forest by Angus MacKay.
According to the internet, Blackmount is a mountain range located in Argyll and Bute, and Blackmount Forest is a deer park (now part of the Glen Nevis and Glen Coe scenic area). Black Mount Forest Lodge was a famous hunting lodge nearby. The Black Mount Deer Forest includes moorland, mountain, as well as several rivers, burns, lochs, and tarns.
Perhaps the Duke of Roxburghe spent time at the hunting lodge but why the tune was named for him is a mystery.
James Henry Robert Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe was born in 1816, the only surviving child of the 5th Duke who died in 1823. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He was a Knight of the Thistle, Lieutenant General of the Royal Company of Archers, a governor of the National Bank of Scotland and Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire from 1873 until his death. In 1836 he married Susanna Stephania Dalbiac and they had four children. He died in Genoa in 1879 and was succeeded by his eldest son James.
•Angus MacKay was born in 1813, the third son of John MacKay, Raasay. He was piper to Davidson of Tulloch in 1829, then in 1835, the year he won the prize pipe, he became piper to Campbell of Islay. In 1841 Angus entered the employment of Lord Ward who had recently bought the Glengarry estate. On 7th April 1843 Angus MacKay was officially appointed as piper to Queen Victoria. Angus became mentally ill in 1854 and died in 1859.
John MacColl’s March to Kilbowie Cottage by William Lawrie.
John MacColl and his wife lived in Oban when they were first married in 1894, then moved to Kilbowie Cottage where they lived until moving to Glasgow in 1908.
