By JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE
The Lochaber Gathering was already well established by 1850 although the date of the first gathering has not yet been found. The Inverness Courier on 19th September 1850 reported that the Gathering had taken place on 28th August. The games commenced at one o’clock and were keenly contested. The results showed prizes for Highland Dress, Dancing and various heavy and track events. Only those wearing Highland dress were allowed to compete. There was a ball in the evening and a boat race the following day.
In 1854 the events were much the same as can be seen from advertisements. The Games seem to have fallen away but were revived in 1880 and included piping competitions, which attracted the top players of the time.
In September 1883 the Inverness Courier reported that the 3rd annual games of the Lochaber Gathering had been held in the old fort in Fort William. In the Open events the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1 John MacColl, Oban; 2. Ronald MacKenzie, Fort George; 3. John MacDougall Gillies, Aberdeen.
Marches: 1. John MacBean, York; 2. Ronald MacKenzie; 3. Robert MacKinnon, Glasgow.
Highland Reel and Strathspeys: 1. John MacBean; 2. John MacColl; 3. PM Robert Meldrum.
In 1884 the Games took place on Tuesday 9th September in the old fort in Fort William with about 3,000 present. Prizes were Piobaireachds 1. A gold medal and £3, 2. £2, 3. £1. For the marches and the strathspeys and reels there were prizes of £2, £1.10s and £1 in each event. To encourage young pipers under the age of twenty the Scottish Pipers’ Society, Edinburgh was giving a prize of £2.5s to which the Lochaber Gathering had added second and third prizes of £1 and 10s.6d. The results were:
Piobaireachds: 1. William MacLennan, Edinburgh; 2. John MacColl, Oban; 3. Malcolm MacPherson, Laggan.
Marches: 1. William MacLennan; 2. John MacColl; 3. George MacDonald, Morar.
Reels and Strathspeys: 1. John MacColl; 2. William MacLennan; 3. PM J Cameron, 71st Highlanders.
Pipers under twenty years of age: 1. A R MacColl, Bonawe; 2. Allan MacPhail, Fort William.
In 1885 the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. John MacColl, Bonawe; 2. Alexr MacDougall Gillies, Aberdeen; 3. Angus MacRae, Raasay.
Marches: Angus MacRae, Alexr MacDougall Gillies; 3. John Connon, Edinburgh.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. George MacDonald, Morar; 2. George Ross, Hamilton; 3. William MacLennan.
William MacLennan and John MacColl were also prize winners in the dancing events. Alexander MacDougall Gillies was a brother of John MacDougall Gillies and A R MacColl was a nephew of John MacColl.
In 1886 at ten o’clock, ten pipers met in the square and marched to the fort playing Lord Panmure. There was a collection of the best athletes, pedestrians, pipers and dancers present.
The report included comments on the competitors. ‘Champion dancers John MacNeill, Edinburgh and J N MacLeod, Kirkcaldy, found in John MacColl, Bonawe, and other dancers of a new generation, they had opponents from whom they could not easily win laurels; and old Malcolm MacPherson, formerly the braw piper for Cluny MacPherson, found that his good old style of playing was completely eclipsed by the sounds emitted from the chanters of some of the younger men. The judges performed their duties in a tent without having the opportunity of seeing the performers or knowing who they were. With regard to marches this arrangement was considered to be a mistake, as there are many pipers who can play good marching music who cannot march gracefully themselves. If two men play equally preference should be given to the men who move with the most attractive gait.’
The Oban Times also reported on the 1886 Gathering, ‘Never, perhaps since the event was instituted were the sports held under more unfavourable circumstances; nevertheless, the Gathering in point of management and excellence of performance was never more successful. In comparison with recent years, there were few present from a distance, the assemblage of spectators being mainly composed of residenters. This was, of course, the direct result of the bad weather, and is a matter for regret, the more so, perhaps, as the event has of late years acquired considerable popularity over the whole district, and the day being observed as an annual holiday over a wide area, must have disappointed many.
‘The principal features of the events are perhaps the pipe playing and Highland dancing. At few gatherings in the Highlands are these given such prominence as at Fort William, and the consequence is that every year there is a large attendance of the most efficient men. This year there were no less than twelve able pipers, and eleven noted Highland dancers present; and the judges we imagine would experience no small difficulty in singling out from among them those most deserving of honours. The judges were Lewis MacIver Esq, Scourie; Donald MacPherson Esq of Glen Nevis; and Pipe Major John MacLennan, Strontian.’
The pipers were listed in the report with their tunes: D C Mather, piper to Admiral Campbell of Barbreck, The Glen is Mine; George Ross, piper to Captain Robertson-Aikman, MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute; Malcolm MacPherson, Laggan, formerly piper to Cluny, Earl of Seaforth’s Salute; Pipe Major Meldrum, 93rd Highlanders, I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand; John MacDougall Gillies, Aberdeen, Mary’s Praise; George MacDonald, South Morar, The Pibroch of Donald Dubh; Archibald MacColl, Bonawe, Massacre of Glencoe; Farquhar MacRae, Glasgow, MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart; Angus MacDonald, South Morar, I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand; Angus MacRae, Monochyle, Lochearnhead, MacIntosh’s Lament.
The results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. Angus MacRae; 2. George MacDonald; 3. Farquhar MacRae. Commended, Meldrum and MacPherson.
Marches: 1. John MacColl; 2. John MacDougall Gillies; 3. George Ross; 4. Meldrum.
Reels and Strathspeys: 1. John MacColl; 2. William MacLennan; 3. John MacDougall Gillies.
In 1887 the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. W MacLennan; 2. J MacDougall Gillies; 3. PM George MacKay.
Marches: 1. A MacRae; 2. J MacDougall Gillies; 3. W MacLennan.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. A MacRae; 2. J MacDougall Gillies; 3. D C Mather.
In 1888 Having previously offered a prize for young pipers the Scottish Pipers’ Society this year offered a prize to encourage local pipers. The piobaireachd started at 10am and other events at 12 noon. The judges for piping were D C MacInnes, Glasgow; Lewis Maciver, Scourie; A Campbell, Fort William. The results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. John MacColl; 2. PM MacKay, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; 3. Norman MacPherson, Dunstaffnage.
Marches: 1. Angus MacRae; 2. George MacDonald; 3. Farquhar MacRae.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. W MacLennan; 2. D C Mather; 3. PM Meldrum.
Special local competition: 1. Angus MacDonald, Morar; 2. George MacDonald, Morar; 3. D MacEachan and A MacPhail, Fort William, equal.
In 1889 on Tuesday 10th September the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. Angus MacRae; 2. John MacColl; 3. K MacDonald; 4. J MacDougall Gillies, Taymouth.
Marches: 1. Angus MacRae; 2. John MacColl; 3. D C Mather.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. Angus MacRae; 2. John MacPherson, Badenoch; 3. A R MacColl, Oban.
In 1890 the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. A MacRae; 2. J MacColl; 3. A Campbell.
Marches: 1. D A Campbell; 2. J MacColl; 3. J M Gillies.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. J Wilson; 2. A MacRae; 3. J M Gillies.
The Gathering continued through the following years with the venue moving to Victoria Park, Fort William later in the 1890s.
On 27th August 1910 the Oban Times reported on the Gathering: ‘The popular sports which are looked forward to each year with keen anticipation, not only by those resident in the Lordship from which they take their name, but by many outwith the confines of Inverness and Argyll, from which counties the greater proportion of the spectators is drawn, came off in the Victoria Park, Fort William on Tuesday.
‘Delightful summer weather prevailed, the sun shining forth in brilliance during practically the whole time the games were in progress.
‘By rail, steamer and motor, crowds poured into Fort William during the early forenoon, and the gathering enclosure and grandstand were thronged, a noticeable feature being a complement, by no means small, of Americans.
‘The Chieftain, Lochiel, showed his interest by taking an active part in the proceedings, and the Executive Committee saw to the conrol and execution of the various events on the lengthy programme.’
A long list of the notables present in the grandstand them followed. Among these, were two names familiar to pipers, Mr A Campbell, Kilberry and Mr J P Grant, younger of Rothiemurchus.
The report then continued: ‘The judges were, for piping Mr A Campbell, Kilberry, Mr J P Grant, younger of Rothiemurchus and Mr Norman Macrae, piper to Lochiel; while for dancing the judging duties were shared by Lochiel, MacLean of Ardgour, Sir Charles Ottley, Mr A Campbell, ex-provost Macfarlane, Major Blackburn and Mr E E Malcolm.
‘In attendance at the games was the boys’ pipe band of St Joseph’s Industrial School, Tranent, under command of Pipe Major Mackenzie and accompanied by their superintendant, Mr J Macdonald, an old Lochaber man. The stirring music discoursed by the lads, particularly the rendering of Pibroch of Donald Dhu, was thoroughly and applauded by the large crowd.
‘At the close of the proceedings, Lady Abinger, Inverlochy Castle, presented the prizes to the successful competitors and on the call of Lochiel was cordially thanked for her good offices on the occasion.’
The results in 1910 were:
Piobaireachd: 1. PM W Ross, 2nd Scots Guards; 2. Pipe Sgt W Lawrie, Ballachulish; 3. PM G S McLennan, Gordon Highlanders; 4. Wm Gray, Govan Police.
Marches: 1. PM Ross; 2. PM McLennan; 3. Wm Gray; 4. Pipe Sgt Lawrie.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. PM McLennan; 2. PM Ross; 3. Pipe Sgt Lawrie.
Gold Medal for champion piper in foregoing competitions: Pipe Major Ross.
Marches (Boys under 16): 1. Andrew Lawson, Bootle; 2. John Mushet, Tranent; 2. Wm Duffy, Tranent.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. Andrew Lawson; 2. Wm Duffy; 3. Alex Stewart, Tranent.
One of G S McLennan’s best known marches, The Lochaber Gathering, got its name in 1910.
The Oban Times report include this: ‘Pipe Major G S McLennan had the honour of playing before the judges two original pipe tunes composed by himself, and on the Chieftain intimating that they had a preference for the one first played, the composer was good enough to say that he would make over to the Executive the copyright of the tune, which in future will be known as The Lochaber Gathering, and will form one of the competition tunes at future meetings.’
According to the story passed down by the McLennan family, George had submitted two tunes, the one which now bears the name Lochaber Gathering and a second tune which was afterwards named Inverlochy Castle. At the end of the Gathering George was asked to go up on the platform and play the two tunes so that the committee could decide which of the two would be called The Lochaber Gathering. The competing pipers were all standing round the platform listening and funnily enough, they all plumped for the tune which is now Inverlochy Castle. But the committee couldn’t decide there and then so they asked George to go along to the hotel at night with his practice chanter, which he did. By that time the committee had had a good dinner with appropriate refreshments but eventually the decision was made. To commemorate the composition George received a silver snuff box from the Lochaber Gathering committee.
In 1911 the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. PM J MacDonald, 4th Cameron Highlanders, 2. PM W Ross, Scots Guards, 3. P Sergt W Lawrie, Ballachulish, 4. J A Gordon, Edinburgh.
Marches: 1. PM W Ross, 2. P Sergt W Lawrie, 3. PM J MacDonald, 4. PM Smith, Argyllshire and Sutherland Highlanders.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. PM W Ross, 2. PM J MacDonald, 3. P Sergt W. Lawrie, 4. PM M Mackenzie.
Champion Piper: Pipe Major Ross. The judges were Mr J Campbell of Kilberry, Mr J P Grant Yr, of Rothiemurchus and Mr E E Malcolm.
In 1923 the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. PM J MacDonald, Cameron Highlanders; 2. PM W Ross, Scots Guards; 3. PM G S McLennan, Gordon Highlanders; 4. PM R Reid, HLI.
Marches: 1. PM R Reid; 2. and 3. PM W Ross and PM G S McLennan, equal; 4. PM J MacDonald.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. PM G S McLennan; 2. PM W Ross; 3. Sgt Piper J D MacDonald, Scots Guards; 4. Cpl Piper D R McLennan Scots Guards.
Gathering Champion Gold Medal: PM G S McLennan. Gold Medal open to competitors who have never won the championship: PM R Reid.
Local Events –
Marches: 1. Duncan Lamont, Mull; 2. PM A Paterson, Fort William; 3. E J Cameron, Fort William.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. PM A Paterson; 2. John McCulloch, Oban; 3. E J Cameron.
Gold Medal for local champion piper: PM A Paterson.
In 1926 the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. PM J MacDonald, Inverness; 2. PM G S McLennan; 3. PM R Reid, 7th HLI.
Marches: 1. PM W Ross, Scots Guards; 2. PM G S McLennan; 3. PM R Reid.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. G S McLennan; 2. W Ross, 3. R McDonald, Glasgow.
Championship Gold Medal: Robert Reid.
The 1928 results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. PM W Ross; 2. PM R Reid; 3. J MacDonald, Glasgow.
Marches: 1. R Reid; 2. W Ross; 3. G S McLennan.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. W Ross; 2. G S McLennan; 3. R Reid.
Championship Medals: 1. W Ross; 2. R Reid.
The Games were followed by a Grand Highland Concert in the Town Hall in the evening.
In 1930 the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. John McDonald, Inverness; 2. R Reid; 3. John Wilson.
March: 1. JB Robertson; 2. J McDonald, Glasgow; 3. W Ross.
Strathspey and Reel: 1. John Wilson; 2. J McDonald, Glasgow; 3. W Ross.
Pipers pictured at the Gathering possibly in 1934 were: Front rank – John MacDonald, William Ross, Robert Reid, Unknown. Second rank – J B Robertson, Malcolm R Macpherson. Judges at back – second from left Major Leckie Ewing.
The 1935 results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. John Wilson, Edinburgh; 2. Malcolm R MacPherson, Invershin; 3. PM R Reid, 7th HLI; 4. D MacLean.
Marches: 1. PM Robertson, Scots Guards; 2. PM R Reid; 3. M R MacPherson; 4. J Wilson. Strathspeys and Reels: 1. PM Robertson; 2. J Wilson. 3. PM R Reid; 4. M R MacPherson.
The 1938 results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. John Wilson, Edinburgh; 2. PM J B Robertson; 3. PM R Reid; 4. Lewis F Beaton, London.
March: 1. J B Robertson; 2. J Wilson; 3. R Reid.
Strathspey and Reel: 1. J B Robertson; 2. J Wilson; 3. R Reid.
At the 1939 Gathering the Inverness Pipe Band played during the day. The results were, Piobaireachd: 1. PM Lewis F Beaton, London, The Vaunting; 2. PM J MacDonald, Glasgow Police; 3. PM D R MacLennan, Seaforth Highlanders; 4. John Wilson, Edinburgh.
Marches: 1. PM J MacDonald; 2. Archie MacNab, Glasgow Police; 3. John Wilson.
Strathspeys and Reels: 1. Peter Bain; 2. (Equal) PM J MacDonald and J Wilson.
Local Marches: 1. J G MacLellan; 2. D Kennedy; 3. (Equal) A MacKillop and E J Cameron. Local Strathspeys and Reels: 1. D Kennedy; 2. E J Cameron; 3. (Equal) J G MacLellan and A MacKillop. Judges, Lt Colonel Grant of Rothiemurchus; Mr Angus Cameron of Kingillie, a nephew of Lochiel; Rev Dr Neil Ross of Laggan; Mr. Neil Ramsay of Scone. Local piping judges, PM John MacDonald, Inverness and Mr Norman MacRae, piper to Lochiel. Pipers pictured in 1939 were: Robert Reid, Louis Beaton, John Wilson, James Robertson.
This was last Gathering before the War.
In 1947 Lochaber held its first post-war gathering on Tuesday 26th August with a record crowd in the Town Park. The Dundee Courier report had the principal winners of the heavy events but piping was not mentioned.
In 1948 the results were:
Piobaireachd: 1. PM Donald MacLean, Lewis; 2. Donald MacLean, Glasgow; 3. R G Hardie, Glasgow; 4. PM Angus MacAulay, London.
March: 1. PM John MacDonald, Glasgow; 2. PM Angus MacAulay, London; 3. John Garroway, Glasgow; 4. PM J MacKenzie, Ballachullish.
Strathspey and Reel: 1. PM Peter Bain, Glasgow; 2. PM John MacDonald, Glasgow; 3. John Wilson, Edinburgh; 4. Donald MacLean, Glasgow.
In 1949 the gathering was held on Tuesday 23rd August, in beautiful weather. Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel, the Gathering Chieftain, and many of his household attended. The pipe band of the 4/5 battalion TA Cameron Highlanders gave a fine show and the piping judges were PM Taylor, Glasgow for the Open and Major Cameron, Sallachan, Mr Cameron-Head of Inverailort and Mr Duncan Kennedy for the confined piping. The results were, Piobaireachd: 1. PM Donald MacLeod, Seaforth Highlanders; 2. PM Peter Bain, Glasgow; 3. D P MacGillivray, Nigg; 4. Sgt Robert MacKay, Camerons.
Marches: 1. PM Donald MacLeod, Seaforth Highlanders; 2. PM Peter Bain, Glasgow; 3. R Hardie, Bishopbriggs.
Strathspey and Reel: 1. PM Donald MacLean, Lewis; 2. PM Peter Bain; 3. PM Donald MacLeod.
Marches Local: 1. John MacCallum; 2. Ian MacLellan; 3. Ewen Cameron.
Strathspey and Reel Local: 1. Ian MacLellan; 2. John MacCallum; 3. A MacLellan.
In 1954 it was announced in the papers that ‘On account of the crippling Entertainments Tax, the Lochaber Gathering will not take place this year.
In 1956 the Piping Times reported, ‘Lochaber Gathering has not been run for several years. While passing through Fort William at Easter last year, I had occasion to call at a certain hostelry and there met two Lochaber piping enthusiasts. They told me then that two public meetings had been held to resuscitate the Games. The first had been extensively advertised and eight people turned up. After discussion it was agreed that a second meeting should be held three weeks later, and that in the interim the eight stalwarts would make strenuous efforts to interest others. At the second meeting five people turned up. In sparkling contrast the efforts of the people of the neighbouring community of Caol have decided that Lochaber will have Highland Games this summer, on July 21st to be precise, and to this end they have been running concerts and other functions to raise the necessary funds. To date they have raised £63 and if ever a project deserved encouragement this is it. Provost Carmichael of Fort William was the chairman at their most recent concert, and he paid homage to the spirit which had prompted Caol to take over the responsibility of the Games when the inhabitants of Fort William had given up the ghost.
Caol Games continued over the following years. In 1964 it adopted a new name, Caol Highland Games and Lochaber Gathering.
The Lochaber Gathering was revived in 1995 and held on 29th July at An Aird in Fort William. In 1996 a Masters’ Competition sponsored by Dr Hugh Hepburn was added.
In 2000 the Piping Times reported: ‘The Lochaber Gathering Piping Competitions were held in Fort William in the Alexandra Hotel on Saturday 18th November. The regional gathering for various reasons was discontinued in the early 50s but it was revived six years ago. I think this is really due to the work of Allan MacColl whose brainchild it was almost single-handedly, but his daughter Kirsteen MacColl has put in a great amount of administrative work in this years’ competition and has to be mentioned. This year it was held outwith the Lochaber Games time, November, which seems to be a good month for this competition and the Alexandra Hotel’s dining room would seem a very appropriate venue to hold the last major competition of the year. There are two types of competition: Senior, which is a Piobaireachd, March, Strathspey and Reel, Hornpipe and Jig Competition. Winner of the Piobaireachd receives the Tuagh Oir (Gold Axe). The overall winner of the four events receives the Lochaber Gathering medal. Tuagh Oir na Maighstirean which is the Masters Gold Axe. This also covers the Piobaireachd, March, Strathspey and Reel, Hornpipe and Jig Competition. The winner also of the Piobaireachd receives the Tuagh Oir (Gold Axe). The overall winner also receives the Lochaber Gathering Medal. Pipers are put up for the night in the hotel and supplied with lunch and dinner during the competitive day, as are the judges. The “Fir an Tighe” were the Rev Donald MacQuarrie and Mr Allan MacPherson and Piping Stewards were Mr Colin Melville and Messrs Donald and Duncan Nicholson who all carried their duties admirably during the day. The hotel standards were excellent as were the staff and the dining hall proved to be a very suitable venue and acoustics were good. Sponsorship was by the Macintosh Foundation and Glencare, without whose help this competition could not go on.
The Gathering lapsed again and was revived in 2005 with competitions for professionals and juniors as well as a lecture and ceilidh. Funding was provided by theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh. Organiser was Allan MacColl. The 2005 Gathering was held on 18th and 19th November at The Nevis Centre in Fort William but the following year the Gathering was held in July and later it moved to August. A lecture and display was put on each year by the College of Piping. The subject of the lecture in 2005 was John MacColl. In 2006 the subject was William Lawrie and his grandson of the same name had been invited to attend and he presented the prizes. In 2007 when William Ross was the subject of the lecture his grand-daughter Lesley Alexander presented the prizes.
Allan MacColl died in April 2020. There was no Gathering that year as all events were cancelled due to lockdown but in 2021 the Lochaber Piping Society took over the running of the competitions with Chairman Ken Cameron and Secretary Rhona Cameron as the main organisers. The gathering moved to a new venue at the Fort William cinema with two indoor platforms and a covered outside space. It has continued in this format since then. In February 2025 at the Society’s AGM Ken and Rhona had decided not to stand for re-election. Angus Nicolson took over as Chairman and James Rosie as Secretary.
