It may be a cliché to say this but lockdown has been hard for everyone. Our struggles and experiences will have differed greatly but for most people reading this, the common struggle has been the lack of social gatherings that revolve around our instrument. The stoicism that the world has […]
The medley has now been a feature of pipe band competitions for 50 years. Prior to this, it was MSRs all the way. Today, the pipe band medley at the top level is far removed from those early years – and even from fairly recent years. Listen to most Grade 1 […]
1946-47 By Jeannie Campbell MBE The Second World War ended on September 2, 1945. It had lasted six years and one day. The military pipers started to return home and in 1946 the regular piping competitions were being restarted. On May 25, 1946, the Oban Times carried a notice for the resumption […]
Sue MacIntyre was born in Inverness in 1929 as Farquhar McIntosh. Her mother, who was a ward sister in the town’s Craig Dunain hospital, died before her fourth birthday so Sue was sent to a children’s home in Aberlour. Some time later she returned to Inverness to live with her […]
1937-39 By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1937 the balls and games of the Argyllshire Gathering were on September 15 and 16. Five clan chiefs attended the opening ball held at the Gathering Halls on the evening of the 14th. They were: Col. MacDougall of MacDougall, chief the MacDougalls; Stewart Appin, chief of […]
1935-36 By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1935 the balls and games of the Gathering were held on September 11 and 12. The Duke of Argyll, chieftain of the gathering was not present to lead the picturesque march of the clansmen from the secretary’s office in Station Road to the Gathering field. […]
Some years later the Scottish Pipers and Dancers Association formed and I was put forward as one of the committee. Also included were Pipe Major John MacKenzie (Big John), James Mclvor, Pipe Major George Ross and others. I forget the names of the dancers who were also on the committee […]
John Davie Burgess died in July 2005, having achieved worldwide fame as a child prodigy on the pipes before maturing into one of the foremost exponents of Scotland’s national instrument. He was born in Aberdeen on March 11, 1934 but the family moved to Edinburgh when at a young age. […]
1933-1934 By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1933 the usual advertisements appeared in the usual newspapers during August ahead of the Gathering on September 13 and 14. Accommodation at hotels and boarding houses was taxed to the utmost. The Duke of Argyll, chieftain of the gathering, was not present this year. The […]
1931-1932 By Jeannie Campbell In 1931 the games and balls of the Argyllshire Gathering were held on September 9 and 10. As usual, the Gaelic concert was held on the evening prior to the Gathering (Tuesday 8). Oban had been enjoying a month of glorious weather and this continued during the […]
