Scotland’s comprehensive victory over England in the Calcutta Cup last weekend prompted these reminiscences of a Tartan Army veteran and piper: By Alasdair Roberts This all started quarter of a century ago. We were a Dons*-minded group calling ourselves the Aberdeen Convivial Society for home and away exchanges of entertainment. […]
Jimmy McIntosh, who has just died, will be remembered as a major authority on piobaireachd. Yet, as many will know, Jimmy was quite late coming to the art. He only started to compete seriously when he was in his 40s. He was deeply appreciative of Robert Bell Nicol and Robert […]
James Haddow McIntosh, a true piping legend, died suddently this morning at home in South Carolina, USA, aged 95. Born in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, one of four siblings. Jimmy’s father had arranged for Jimmy to receive his early piping tuition from Pipe Major Tom Sutherland, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Jimmy […]
Further information has come to light on the movements of a piper we mentioned here last week. Scotland’s East Ayrshire Leisure is seeking sheet music of a tune composed by a Donald Galbraith so that it may be played at the opening of Dean Castle in Kilmarnock on the completion […]
By Stephen Beattie James Downie Watt was born on June 10, 1869 in Leamington, Warwickshire, England and raised by his parents, John Ross Watt and Jane Warden Ritchie, both of whom hailed from Scotland. James – J. D. – was one of 10 children, three of whom died in infancy. […]
Our fourth member of the Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers (CLASP) to be profiled is Scott Long. Where are you from and how did you get into piping?Born and raised in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia but now living and working in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for many years. My older […]
By Margaret Dunn The three overall winners of the Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers’ (CLASP) January 2021 video submission competition reinforces the large geographical spread of members of the popular league for amateur pipers. The overall winners are: Grade 1 – Trevor DeMass (USA); Grade 2 – Eddie Boland […]
The results of the recent online junior solo competitions organised by Scotland’s Vale of Atholl Pipe Band are as follows: PIPING Under 15 Ceòl Mòr – 1. Archie McNab (Catherine’s Lament); 2. Angus Robson; 3. Lennox Munro; Jamie Woburn.Judge: Stuart Samson MBE. 15-18 Years Ceòl Mòr – 1. Fraser Robson; […]
Continuing the story of the MacRae pipers of Harris. By Jeannie Campbell MBE Angus MacRae’s brother, Finlay was Piper to John Stewart of Ensay, according to the Notices of Pipers. Ensay is a small island just off the south coast of Harris. John Stewart was born in Harris in 1825 […]
By Jeannie Campbell The MacRae family was originally from Kintail but Christopher MacRae, who was born about 1807, moved to the island of Harris some time prior to 1840. Christopher married Isabella MacKenzie and had a large family. The 1851 census shows them living in Obbe, Harris: Christopher (40) a […]
