In the aftermat…

Pies and pipes

In the aftermath of the outstanding Spirit Of Scotland/L&B Police concert, tonight was a little quieter but certainly no less enjoyable.

Alan Harper

Allan Harper had the honour of leading the way on his harmonic cocus Glen drones playing the wonderful Sands Of Kuwait, Sleep Dearie Sleep and Angus Lawrie’s Old Toastie.  His finale was the ground to one of this year’s Silver Medal tunes, Salute to Donald.  At the end of his set, Allan revealed he was playing a cane bass of his own making.  Its richness and resonance were a great advert for Allan’s newest skill. Next was Joshua Townsley.

JT not JJ

His phrasing, crisp execution and poise showed immense maturity.  A couple of swinging 6/8s were followed by Samantha’s Lullaby, Arthur Gillies’ beautiful but very sad melody.  Finally Josh gave us the ground and first variation of the Wee Spree. Post-pie-piper was CPA Treasurer, Nils Michael.

Nils Michaels

Nils is clearly putting in the hard yards this off-season as his pipes have never sounded better.  With a full set of cane drone reeds he gave us a double MSR in readiness for the forthcoming Duncan Johnstone in March.  His set included Mrs John MacColl, Lady Louden, the Shepherd’s Crook, Bessie MacIntyre and the Cockerel in the Creel. There then followed a breather in proceedings whilst the evening’s star attraction expertly settled his instrument upstairs like a master green keeper delicately touching up his prized 18^thgreen.  The tension and excitement in the bar was almost tangible.  Finally the moment arrived and double Archie Kenneth Quaich winner, Tam Peterkin, strode confidently into the room with his cocus Glens.

Tam plays The Lament for Donald of Laggan

After an amuse bouche of tunes such as Southall and The Hills of Argyll, Tam gave us a strong and deftly handled Lament for Donald of Laggan.  Tam is looking to secure his third Archie Kenneth on 3^rdMarch.  On this form, he will be a very strong contender.

Where did you get that hat?

 

 

 

 

Remember Sunday 19^th February 16.00hrs Scots Guards Club. Knock out competition. Jenny Hazzerd v Craig Muirhead.

 

Douglas Gardiner

A Bobby Dazzler

So it’s January in not so sunny Scotland. We go to work in the dark; we go home in the dark. It’s cold wet and miserable. Most are suffering from post festive blues and looking at the latest celebrity diet. All in all the light at the end of the tunnel may turn out to be a train.

They happen most of all when you least expect them. On a bleak January Tuesday evening in the Scots Guards Club we had, in the words of the now retired sports commentator, Arthur Montford ‘ a bobby dazzler.’

The players, to continue with the football parlance, one after the other played a blinder and there was a fair smattering of wee gems along the way.

Joshua Townsley get the evening going

First up was Joshua Townsley. His support team was there in the shape of dad Stephen and sister Taylor, who was in possession of a chewed mobile phone courtesy of the new pup-Pebbles.

Its been quite a while since Joshua has played at the Eagles and it was a real treat. Drones as steady as a rock that he tunes very well himself and a fine wee repertoire of tunes. He finished off with the ground of MacCrimmons Sweetheart. When he was done I asked if he knew who the ‘sweetheart’ was thinking he might say ‘his wife?’ He replied, quick as a flash ‘A cow’. Without missing a beat some wag at the bar said ‘Ah that’s maybe true but in all fairness she could make a fine pot of broth.’

Next up and the pre pie piper (there was fair bit of chat going on as we all had a lot to catch up on) was the first of the Canadian mafia who had travelled through form Glasgow, Matt McIsaac. Matt was over to play with the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band at the Celtic connections concert.

Matt McIsaac

Now I know you enthusiasts are always keen to know what pipe players have on their shoulder Hendersons, Sinclairs, McCallums etc. but all you need to know about Matts instrument is that they were ‘Holy Shit’ pipes. Booming covers it. Fantastic. A Pipe Majors dream.

The HS Pipe

Now I had been given the heads up that Matt could play a bit. Large hands with fingers of dynamite. It’s a long time since I have been so impressed with a player straight off the bat. The last time was probably when I first heard the late great Scott McAulay. Spookily enough Matt started his performance with Mrs Margaret Ann MacLeod, one of Scott’s 2-4 compositions. This was one of the gems of the evening I mentioned earlier. It had more swing that a children’s play park and was a beautiful start to an excellent MSR. He didn’t stop at the reel and went into some hornpipes that included the not often heard John MacLellan tune The Golden Wreath. For once the pies were a bit of a nuisance but as Matt had not put the HS pipes away there was a hint more was to come.

Almost pie time

By this time there was a fair old crowd and there was a buzz in the room as everyone got stuck into a pie (or two). The chat was in full flow when there was a wee stramash

(another Arthur favourite) at the door nearest the bar. It burst open and in came the legendary Alan MacDonald with a wee swagger and hat cocked at a jaunty angle. Alan was in fine form and a very welcome addition to the company.

Andy Pogers

The post pie piper was another member of the Spirit of Scotland, Canadian Andy Rogers, who made a welcome return and gave us one of the gold medal set tunes Macintosh of Borlum’s Salute. This tune is new to me and to my knowledge I had not heard it before. Andy gave a very polished performance and it was a great pleasure to have him back at the Eagles.

Next for shaving was yet another Canadian, Curtis Leblanc who was with his girlfriend, Steph Barteaux (who is now in possession of my tie). Curtis was modest in his approach stating that he hadn’t played much and was a bit out of form. He borrowed up the ‘HS’ pipes and BOOM we were off and running again. A great performance full of music.

Curtis Leblanc

Another welcome addition to the company was Canadian Tiber Falzett who I thought had come in disguise but it turned out his hair was genuine! Tiber is studying at Edinburgh Uni. and hopes to be frequent visitor at the Eagles.

Now it was a brave man that was going to follow Curtis but resplendent in Highland dress up stepped Donald MacLeod. He stared off with 2 2/4 Marches PM George Ross’s   Farewell to the Black Watch and Bonnie Anne. Two more absolute gems. He continued with some small strathspeys and reels that were a real teat to listen to.

Donald MacLeod

And that as they say way that…..until Mr McIsaac decided to put more air through the HS pipe. We sat, we listened and he literally blew us away. Great stuff and a fitting way to close the evening.

As the Canadian entourage disappeared into Haymarket station, whooping and hollering as only Canadian hockey type people can, I headed for home in the dark, in the cold and in the rain, however I had this impish grim on my face for a couple of reasons.  One was the quality of the night and the other was a bit of reminiscing. If that night had taken place some twenty years ago, the Canadians would have missed their train being ensconced behind heavy velvet curtains in a certain West End Hotel with mine host Neil Robertson calling the shots. We would have partied into the wee small hours and enjoyed yet another Eagles lock in. Ah how times have changed. Yes the Canadian mafia got out of jail last Tuesday but what a night.

A bobby dazzler indeed.

Euan Anderson

Match report 10th January 2012

With the Mayans predicting the end of the world in 2012, we got possibly our last year on earth off to a flying start.

What better way to open it than with Strathallan’s Cameron Drummond on his trademark outstanding instrument with a set of classic 4/4 marches?  Included in his selection was the beautiful March of the King of Laois – an Irish tune with very strong similarities to the piobaireachd Duncan MacRae of Kintail’s Lament.  The academics amongst you can debate the provenance of each tune and whether or not the King of Laois came from Kintail.

Cameron will be playing with The Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band at the Celtic Connections concert on Saturday 28^th January in Glasgow.  An historic show not to be missed.

Dr Fergus Perks, one of the NHS’ finest, took the floor with his Sinclairs and gave us a superb show of popular and melodic tunes all put together with great aplomb.  Heights of Cassino and Ishbel T Macdonald were followed by the airs She Moved Through The Fair (the inspiration for Simple Minds’ 1989 No. 1 hit, Belfast Child) and the amusingly named Danish Knife Grinders’ Spring Song.  Fergus then gave us a set of numerous two parted strathspeys and reels before finishing with the Ass in the Graveyard and Mozart’s 4th Horn Concerto.    

Another piping doctor, Robert Gray, played next on his sparkling Naills.  His tunes included the moving Bloody Fields of Flanders plus a heavy MSR of Arthur Bignold of Lochrosque, Susan Macleod and The Smith of Chilliehassie.  Is this last tune referring to Killiechassie in Perthshire where author J. K. Rowling owns the big hoose? 

Our final player tonight was Angus Lutton.  Having now recovered from his victorious rugby injuries, Angus has been practicing for the Scottish Schools CCF Piobaireachd contest this Friday.  He gave us a strong rendition of the evergreen Company’s Lament on a well set up bagpipe with some fine musical touches.  An excellent reflection on his tutor at The Edinburgh Academy, Pipe Major Michael Gray, MBE.  If Angus can repeat this form on Friday, he will certainly give the judges something to think about.

On the strength of tonight, we look forward to the rest of the year and beyond with a great deal more optimism than the Mayans.

 

 

Douglas Gardiner

Last Match report of 2011

The evening of the last Eagle Pipers’ meeting of 2011 was wet, windy and altogether wild (not in a good way). Fortunately the playing was none of these things.

Douglas Gardiner was first with pipes out of the box, beginning the end of 2011 on a set of Niall pipes, which were made in the 1990s for the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band, and have surprisingly short drones, creating a challenge in ‘reeding’ them. Gardiner has obviously discovered the secret, and he fired into the compound time signatures, with the 9/8 Ian MacFadyen’s Tuning Phrase and the 12/8 Jock Masson, followed by classic 6/8s Mrs Lily Christie and P/M Donald Maclean’s Farewell to Lewis. Gardiner finished his set with an Air called Morag Duncan, written by John Wilson and the lovely march The Centenary Jewel.

Robert Gray took the opportunity to blow away the cobwebs that were hanging around after a certain seasonal work function, and cracked out some great wee sets including The Man From Skye and The Seagull which was flying furiously in the conditions of the night.

A dedicated group of students joined us tonight from Glasgow amid speculation that they had been blown east-wards by the fierce winds, and also prompting the tune name The Weegies’ Welcome to the Eagle Pipers, although no such tune exists yet. We look forward to publishing the tune on eaglepipers.com soon. We were also joined by Don Bogue from Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA. Don is a Drum Major with his local band, and as always, we are very pleased that our international friends look us up when they’re in Edinburgh.

Jenny Hazzard kept the tunes flowing, fresh from her win at the Scots Guards Knock-Out competition, with an MSR and a stunning set of contemporary compositions including 3 from the pen of fellow Canadian Mike Grey,The Bottler, Doubled-Over Happy, and The Mallaig Ferry. Intricate and cleverly constructed pieces that demand nimble fingers!

The feature players of the evening were two brothers from a family of four piping sons who learn their piping at Edinburgh Academy. 13 year old Angus McPherson began with Argyll’s Crossing the River Po and Colin’s Cattle before a tremendous MSR of Achany Glen, the Caledonian Canal and Alick Cameron. It was pointed out to me by Donald Macleod that the march was written by Angus’ namesake, being the Angus MacPherson of Invershin. As a reward for making pertinent and very interesting links, Donald shall be making an appearance as Match Reporter in the future…

Older brother Hamish then took the floor and gave us a very musical and thoroughly enjoyable rendition of The Detroit Highlanders as an entrée to his first public performance of a piobaireachd, which was Too Long In This Condition. Hearty congratulations to both young men.

Eagle Pipers resumes for 2012 on Tuesday 10 January. We do hope you have all had a safe and happy festive season and we look forward to seeing you soon. 

Tracey

A wee bit of history

Eagles member Len Durham and tales from the past…

“It was a special pleasure to be at the gathering of the Eagle Pipers Society at the the Scots Guards Club in Edinburgh on 1 November.  My only previous visit was in 1973 (ie nearly 40 years ago) on my first trip to Scotland from my native South Africa.  At that time, I had particularly wanted to visit the Eagle because I had previously been the winner of the silver salver presented by the Eagle as the prize for the Marches at South Africa’s main solo contest, popularly known as the “100 Guineas”.

It was with some tridation that I ventured into the big wide world of Scottish piping for the first time. Coincidentally, the first person I introduced myself to happened to be Ronnie Ackroyd whose brother George (ex PM of the Black Watch) was the leading light in South African piping and my tutor at the time. Ronnie made me very welcome right away, although I was a bit surprised by having a set of pipes thrust on me and being told I had the floor for 10 minutes!  However well I might have played, it was nothing compared to the pleasure and to me complete novelty, in hearing some outstanding players who, I think, that night included Duncan Johnstone.

That night I was also introduced to George Stoddart.  A few years later that acquaintance became a firm friendship when George came to South Africa to take charge of the pipe bands at the Durban Tattoo I was the pipe major.  

My visit this year refreshed other connections to Edinburgh piping.  Captain John MacLellan was a frequent visitor to South Africa as a judge and tutor in the mid and late 1970s.  On several of his trips he was accompanied by Bunty, so I was delighted to to be able to meet Colin at the Eagle this year.  On one of his visits to Siuth Africa, John had described a cutting edge water trap which Colin had shown him – nothing more than a long tube inserted into the blowstick stock which is old hat these days but was very novel then. How things have moved on.  Bunty was very interested in Hector MacDonald – Hector the Hero – who had been in South Africa during the Boer War and was able to visit some of the Boer War battlefield sites associated with him.

The welcome this time was just as warm as on my first visit and we heard some good tunes.  I now live in London so hopefully it won’t be 40 years until the next one.”

Thanks Len and hope to see you back soon.

Match report, 29th November 2011

Seven pipers piping, two EPS debuts, a brace of guests from Texas and a complex piping quiz.  No partridge in a pear tree but another busy night at the Guards Club.

Douglas Gardiner kicked off the evening playing John Haynes’ The Cockney Jocks; a tune written about The London Scottish Regiment in whose ranks Gardiner served a decidedly undistinguished part time military career.

Donald Macleod followed looking set to break the EPS record of consecutive playing appearances.  His set of airs including Oran Na Navy and Loch Broom Bay was a highlight for many with the latter tune named after the beautiful loch where Donald grew up.

There is a theory put forward (very convincingly) by some of the more celebrated EPS members that it is impossible to be a good piper and a good golfer.  Our next piper of the night, Dr Fergus Perks, proved it can be done.  Not content with a single figure golf handicap, Fergus displayed his talent with a set of Sinclairs playing such classics as 10^th HLI Crossing the Rhine and Mrs Lily Christie.  However, those jealous aspirant golfers listening may have taken some solace from the piping equivalent of three fresh air shots in Fergus’s playing of David Ross.

During the pie break, the Hon President reminded everyone of the forthcoming Scots Guards Knock Out Heats on Sunday 4^th and 11^th December.  Our own Jenny Hazzard will be playing in the second date against John Mulhearn.  A further date to look out for is Fred Morrison’s concert in Longniddry on Friday 16^th December.  Tickets can be reserved by calling Frances Cunningham (01875 852 958).

Visiting us tonight were John and Victoria McCain from Texas.  Judging by the Hon President’s recollections of typical Texan cuisine, they may have found our steak pies a little bland.  Also sampling his first Eagles’ pie was Tam Peterkin’s younger (and taller) brother Henry.  In his youth, Henry was one of the most renowned pipers on Lour Road in Forfar.

Post Pie Piper was Dr Peter McCalister who introduced a cleverly devised quiz to be completed whilst he played.  The questions included identifying his eight strathspeys and reels, speeding texting accurately his four marches (some with the longest names in our repertoire) and correctly identifying the Canntaireachd of six piobaireachd.  It was a quiz which truly sorted the medallists from the buskers.  The winning team was Tam Peterkin, Colin Campbell and Douglas Gardiner

In an effort to test the mettle of the readership of this website, we are offering one Eagles steak pie with a brown sauce sachet to the first person (who didn’t attend tonight) with the correct answers to the Canntaireachd question (see bottom of report).  Only one is Nameless.  Place your response in the comments section.

Our first EPS debut performance of the night was from Brandon Summers of Calgary, Alberta.  Brandon now plays with Fife Constabulary and gave us a very musical selection including a classy MSR of the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, Susan Macleod and the Sheepwife with all the hallmarks of a strong Grade 1 piper.

Lachie Dick of North Uist gave us our second debut on a wonderful bagpipe.  His selection showed his Western Isles upbringing and climaxed with the Gaelic Air Tuireadh Iain Ruaidh and reels Cota Mor Ealasaid, Brenda Stubbers and the Gravel Walk.

Tonight’s piobaireachd was originally due to be from Angus Lutton.  However, in preparation he unwisely chose to play rugby for The Edinburgh Academy in the Scottish Schools Rugby Cup Final at Murrayfield.  Very sadly this involved breaking his nose although his team did win.

EPS anchorman and pie eating champ, Andrew Gray, manfully rose to the challenge at 24 hours notice.  He played a very strong and musical Corrienessan’s Salute with a dexterity and bagpipe that showed all the benefit of his first term’s hard work at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire.

Another busy but hugely enjoyable night!

Douglas Gardiner

Quiz Question:

Name these well known piobaireachd:

1. Hiharin odin hiharin dro hihorodo odin hihorodo dro
2. Hiemotra hiaho hioem hodinotra chelalhodin
3. Hiharin hienhodro hahodro hihiodin
4. Hiharin dro odro hiodro traotraen
5. Hiemto hiharara hientro hiharara
6. Cherede cherede cherede cherede

Spot the Eagle

This cost him a broken nose but it was worth it !

EDINBURGH Academy, beaten finalists last year, went one better with the narrowest of wins over a strong George Watson’s side at Murrayfield last night.

This wasn’t a classic final but it was never dull and was played with a palpable intensity from beginning to end. Nor was the result ever a foregone conclusion, with Watson’s scrapping right to the final whistle.

The Academy, unbeaten all year and starting as slight favourites, rarely looked like a side in control, as Watson’s harried them from first to last. Indeed, the Academy may not have won had Watson’s second row Matt Poole not been sin-binned moments into the second half, a decision which turned the game.

The Academy had been sluggish and fitful in the first half, trying to force the game. Neither side developed any continuity and both sides committed a seemingly-endless succession of basic errors. Watson’s had probably edged a nip-and-tuck first half and led 3-0 at the break thanks to a second-minute Andrew McMillan penalty.

Yet Poole’s sidelining seemed to galvanise the boys in blue and, by the time the Watson’s second row returned to the pitch, the Academy had scored two tries, taking a lead that would be whittled away but which they would never entirely surrender. The first of those tries came six minutes into the half when Alexander Muir, who to that point had performed like a nervous debutante, spun through two tackles in heavy traffic on the Watson’s 22, drawing full-back Fraser McKay and putting Robbie Orr over for the opening try.

Within four minutes the Academy had added another, Freddie Smith scooting into the left corner after some good work by Tom Salisbury. Crucially, Alex Swain, after a comedy attempt at the previous conversion, struck over the two extra points from the touchline. When things got tight later on, it was a crucial cushion as Watson’s stormed back.

Watson’s applied incredible pressure on the ball carrier throughout and the Academy were lucky not to be on the wrong end of a sin-binning themselves as they racked up penalty after penalty, especially in the last quarter. On such things do these matches turn.

Watson’s still almost made it though. Coach Ally Donaldson eventually got the message to them to kick one of the many penalties they were offered and McMillan brought them back to 12-6 down. Then Smith suffered a rush of blood to the brain and chucked a crazy ball deep in his 22, the ball going loose and Watson’s second row Neil Irvine Hess piling over the line, Swain’s missed touchline conversion leaving them just one point adrift.

Yet, despite a frenzied final ten minutes, the Academy held out. Skipper and man of the match Chris Deans was immense throughout but really stepped up during those dying minutes. Watson’s were driven forward by impressive little scrum-half and skipper Ramsay Young. The only pity was that one side had to lose.

Scorers: Edinburgh Academy: Tries: Orr, Smith. Con: Swain. Watson’s: Try: Irvine Hess. Pens: McMillan 2.

Edinburgh Academy: R Orr; T Salisbury, A Swain, T Grey, F Smith; A Muir, A Glashan; J Haining, A Lutton, A McWilliam, R Seydak (T Mitchell, 38), C Thomson, C Simpson, R Simpson, C Dean (c).

March report 15th November 2011

Colin and the two Tams.

This evenings meeting of the Eagle Pipers Society got off to a relaxed start with PM Euan Anderson opening with a set of three 2 parted 2/4 marches composed by himself. Some interesting and innovative melodies were on show but unfortunately Euan has not named these compositions despite apparently writing them around a decade ago so we will wait and see if fitting names can be assigned. He rounded his stint off with an air, The Haunting, then his own arrangement of the 4/4 March version of the same tune finishing with Murdo’s Wedding.

There was no rush to proceedings this evening and the relaxed atmosphere continued when Michael Gray took over from Euan and raised the tone of the evening….. Or rather pitch, playing the Killworth Hills to warm. We then heard a mini MSR; PM Willie Ross’s Farewell to the Scots Guard, O’er the Bows to Ballindaloch and The Piper of Drummond. There was more music to come and Michael continued with two big Marches; The Glenfinnan Highland Gathering and The Balmoral Highlanders. Next was a competition style Strathspey and Reel that powerfully finished Michael’s selection off.

Donald has a few tunes

After a flick and a kick start of a cane bass reed, Donald MacLeod set off with another march, this time Lieutenant Colonel DJS Murray, both warming his pipes and showing off their booming sound. Donald was on form and keen to air some competition material, playing; Hugh Kennedy, 74^th Farewell to Edinburgh, The Piper’s Bonnet, Tulloch Castle, The Sound of Sleat and the Smith of Chillichassie.

Susan tucks into a pie washed down by the famous Guinness

A modest amount of pies were consumed at the break and we heard the news that the Scot’s Guards knock out competition set for this Sunday, 20^thNovember has been postponed in order to run the Scots Guards Junior Solo Piping Competition held over the same weekend at Redford Barracks. Good luck to all involved. Congratulations were in order, yet again, at the Eagles as a number of our members had good tunes and took some of the top prizes down in London, well done!

The glutton in action

Before jetting off to Canada to judge the top Amateur competition there, the George Sheriff Memorial, Colin MacLellan gave another glimpse of his huge repertoire, beginning with an air heard on the 78^thFraser Highlander’s Live in Ireland album.

Colin

This was great to hear and brought back fond memories of the first piping album I ever owned. Some heavy 6/8 Marches introduced some even heavier 2/4 marches, The Abercairney Highlanders and The Braes of Castle Grant. MacBeth’s Strathspey and Inveraray Castle gave way to a trio of competition reels, Broadford Bay, Bessie MacIntyre and Alick C McGregor. Colin finished off with a Hornpipe and a deluge of Jigs beginning with the Jig of Slurs and ending with “Jig by DA Campbell”.

The evenings Piobaireachd

Our last player of the evening was Doctor Robert Gray who warmed his pipes up with a pipe version of the Border Ballad. A couple of Marches to start; PM Bob Martin and Leaving the Field then into some 2/4s, Donald MacLean’s Farewell to Oban and John MacDonald’s Welcome to South Uist, played with purpose and swagger. It was good to hear another two tunes that brought back early memories for me, two of my first competition tunes I learned with Donald McBride in Edinburgh. Robert then offered his Piobaireachd services and the room was grateful and eager to hear his tune, MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart’s Lament No1. An enjoyable tune that rounded the night off in a very satisfactory style.

 Angus Lutton from Edinburgh Academy will be on the next meetings piobaireachd.

Note: There will be no Eagles meeting on Tuesday 27^th December.

Me looking after the PM-again- in some bar somewhere in Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cameron Drummond

MATCH REPORT – 1st NOVEMBER 2011

Tonight we paid tribute and farewell to EPS Honorary Member, Jimmie MacGregor, a man who touched the lives of so many pipers over the years.

Donald tells a tale

After the Hon P/M opened proceedings with a couple of gaelic airs followed by the great 2/4 march The Young MacGregor, Donald Macleod provided a polished selection including Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, A Luaidh and Old Wife of the Mill Dust.

CPA President, Robert Gray, followed with some wonderful words about the stories he heard from Jimmie including one about a competing piper who practicing in a bee keeping suit to keep the midges at bay. His selection included the ground of the Lament for the Only Son in tribute to Jimmie.

The Doc plays Lament for the Only Son

Colin Campbell then played us some classic 9/8s and 6/8s on his mellow 1890s Glens in readiness for the SPSL contest in London. His MSR included Leaving Glenurquhart a tune which P/M Jimmy MacGregor, Jimmie’s father, took many a prize with.

John Fraser

Lothian & Borders Police piper and ex-Scots Guardsman, John Fraser borrowed the Hon P/M’s bagpipe to provide a selection of classic tunes such as the Battle of Waterloo and the Garb of Old Gaul – the Regimental slow march of the Scots Guards.

Our special guest and Post Pie Piper for the evening was Canada’s Bob Worrall. Bob was judging the light music at the Glenfiddich the previous weekend where Jimmie MacGregor was posthumously awarded the Balvenie Medal – a hugely deserved honour.

Bob gives us a tune

Bob gave one of the most musical displays heard at Eagles for a very long time. His chanter was complemented by a set of drones that just simply would not shift despite Bob’s engaging breaks to introduce each set. His selection included Willie Ross’s Flight of the Eaglets (a tune with both Scots Guards and EPS connections) and two of Bob’s own compositions, Salute to Cap Caval and the Last Train to Malaga. The latter set can be found on the latest album by Bob’s band, Scantily Plaid- www.scantilyplaid.com

He finished with the ground of Donald MacLeod’s piobaireachd Cabar Feidh Gu Brath followed by Donald MacLennan’s Tuning Phrase.

At this point it would be remiss not to mention the success of the Hon Treasurer in winning the Piobaireachd at the Glenfiddich with a commanding performance of Scarce of Fishing – all 17.5 minutes of it. A terrific tune on a wondeful pipe.

Bringing this reflective evening to a close was Royal Conservatoire of Scotland student, Chris Ross, with a well rehearsed selection including the MSR Mrs John MacColl, Tulloch Castle and Pretty Marion and finishing with Allan MacDonald’s Dr Flora MacAulay of Carradale.

The patrons

And to quote the PM ‘that was the evening’s evening’. However as some donned jackets to head home in the dark winters night others stayed out and regaled countless tales of piping anecdotes about Jimmie and the good times. In travels hats were doffed at the West End Hotel where for once the Inn was closed. Changed days indeed.

and more

A truly wonderful evening. If only the man himself had been there. He would have had such fun.

Douglas Gardiner

Glenfiddich Championships-Blair Atholl

Roddy MacLeod won the 2011 Glenfiddich Championship at Blair Castle for the fourth time. Roddy gained the overall title with a win in the MSR and a third in the Piobaireachd. Our own Iain Speirs won the Piobaireachd playing a wonderful Scare of Fishing.
As usual the post event dinner and ceilidh lasted into the wee small hours and some were seen the following morning taking part in the traditional life saving Full Scottish
at Ballenluig. Sunday was a long day !

Piobaireachd
1st Iain Speirs, “Scarce of Fishing”
2nd Stuart Liddell, Inveraray, Scotland
3rd Roddy MacLeod
4th Willie McCallum, Bearsden, Scotland
5th Angus MacColl, Benderloch, Scotland
Judges: Colin MacLellan, John McDougall, Iain Morrison

MSR
1st Roddy MacLeod
2nd Chris Armstrong, Airth, Scotland
3rd Willie McCallum
4th Niall Stewart, Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland
5th Stuart Liddell
Judges: Gavin Stoddart, John Wilson, Bob Worrall