By Jeannie Campbell MBE The Caledonian Society of London was instituted in 1839 and had its first formal session in 1839-1840 although some activities had started as early as 1837. The impetus seems to have been a desire by professional Scots, particularly those from the Lowlands, to create an alternative […]
By Wilson Brown (NPC Piping Instructor and Tuition Co-ordinator) On March 20, 2020, the National Piping Centre (NPC) closed its doors to students and, like most of the world, went into lockdown. The last student to be taught in person was Lou Lanaro, a 72-year-old piper from Collingwood, Ontario. Lou […]
In the eight years since I moved to Scotland from Pittsburgh, many of the spoils of life in this new place have long since gone from novel to normal. No longer must I wait until a highland games to purchase piping goods in person; I can pop into a wide […]
November is invariably upon before we know it. For those of you in the southern hemisphere, temperatures are starting to ramp up and summer is approaching. Here in Scotland, though, the clocks went back in late October; it’s dark and dreich. A chap feels dolorous. Desultory. Meteorologists reckon November is […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE In the early years of the 19th century there were several Scottish groups in London. Many of these were benevolent societies, giving their profits to relieve the suffering of destitute Scots in London. Several Scottish cities had similar societies. Many of the gentlemen involved were the […]
It was around 30 years ago one very dark and blustery Hallowe’en night. I shall never forget it. The previous week I had received a letter whilst busy conducting research for my latest book on the Campbell Cainntaireachd (my ninth) and had become bogged down on the intricacies of Gaelic […]
By MacGregor Kennedy Much sartorial elegance was in evidence, as usual. One particularly admired David Tait and his cohorts strutting around in their new grey lambs wool geansies with the Grant’s motif on the breast; John Napier MacAskill resplendent in a new Napier kilt was, as ever, something else. He […]
The St. Andrews Caledonian Pipe Band of Tasmania toured Scotland In the summer of 2019, the. As was the case with many bands, this proved to be the outfit’s last trip for a while. JOHN RALPH, the band’s Pipe Major, recounts the band’s incredible visit On paper, St. Andrews Caledonian […]
Black Donald’s March – Piobaireachd Dhomnuill Duibh – is a piobaireachd in the secondary classification that has been adapted successfully into a 6/8 march, a jig and a hornpipe. It has been popular with pipers ever since it appeared in Donald MacDonald’s book in the early 19th century. Pipe settings […]
1960-1961 By Jeannie Campbell MBE At the Argyllshire Gathering in 1960, as in previous years, tunes were set for the Open competition but not for the Gold Medal. Four out of the nine were to be submitted. The tunes were The Prince’s Salute, Scarce of Fishing, The Blue Ribbon, The […]
