Match Report Tuesday 18th February 2020

A relatively small attendance at the AGM saw the formalities taken care of reasonably quickly. The secretary reported that there are 106 fully paid up members, the treasurer said there was money the bank and the President reported on what lay ahead in 2020. Officer bearers were not up for re election so business was pretty much done before the arrival of the pies. 

Interestingly the Society has 1380 followers on facebook and has a healthy social media footprint that certainly helps integration with the International piping community.

Post pies saw Alan Harper have a run through his Archie Kenneth tune, the melodic Lament for Mary MacLeod. Alan is first on (Saturday 29th) and will have to fight against the morning elements in this big contest. Pipe preparation and settling the inevitable nerves will be key but all the music is there so best of luck to Alan and all the other Eagles taking part.

Alan Harper

Remember that although this is a rugby international weekend there is still a bit of piping on in the Guards club on Sunday with a round of the KO competition.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 3rd March and guest, Eddie Seaman, will be giving to post pie piobaireachd, The Salute to Donald.

Eddie Seaman

Euan Anderson

Hon P/M

17th March – Boghall Juniors Visit

I am very pleased to announce that well known piper Jonathon Simpson will be visiting us on Tuesday 17th March with some young pipers from the Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band.

Jonathon on a beach having won the Most Sandy Brogues contest.

Jonny is a successful soloist, tutor and Boghall stalwart.  The band have a much envied, copied and renowned junior feeder system – the results of which we will have the pleasure of hearing.

Boghall are fresh from their triumphant Celtic Connections concert in January.  Catch up on BBC Pipeline iPlayer.  It is well, well worth a listen.  Our own Pipe Major provided the MC.

Boggies’ bunnet throwing display.

Match Report Tuesday 4th February 2020

Despite the recent storms, Ciara and Dennis, and the narrow loss at Murrayfield, spirits were high within the Scots Guards Association Club and some 15 pipers took to the floor for a tune. The 3/4s The Kilworth Hills, The Argyll’s Crossing the River Po (composed by Robert Brown and Eagle piper back in the day) and The Shoals of Herring, got a dusting off and we had a look at the hornpipe and jig, The Train Journey North and The Curlew.

The post pie piper was the President himself who after warming the pipe gave us a lovely The Lament for the Old Sword. A great way to start the new session of Piobaireachd.

The Societies AGM is on Tuesday 18th February 2020 starting at 20.00hrs. Bring your pipes in case it is a quick meeting. Tom Peterkin is on Piob. duties in preparation for the Archie Kenneth Quaich that is on Saturday 29th February in the Royal Scottish Pipers rooms in Edinburgh. The draw is

1. Allan Harper; 

2. Iain Kirkwood; 

3. Lachlan McDonald; 

4. Aaron Yeung; 

5. James Murray; 

6. James Kenny; 

7. Sandie Greenwood; 

8. Robert Frater; 

9. Gordon Hislop; 

10. Leslie Barrett; 

11. Walter Gray; 

12. Stewart Gaudin; 

13. Janette Greenwood; 

14. Con Houlihan; 

15. Jim Waugh; 

16. Stuart Letford; 

17. John Forbes; 

18. Michael McGowan; 

19. Evan Wraga; 

20. Stewart Allan; 

21. Tom Peterkin; 

22. Andrea Jones; 

23. Andrew Park; 

24. Gill Cairns;

25. Neill Mulvie; 

26. Dugald MacLeod.

The judges are Patricia Henderson and Donald MacPhee.

Archie Kenneth

Nice to see a smattering of Eagles on the list.

The Scots Guards KO continues on Sunday 23rd February, 16.00hrs. Calum Brown v Bradley Parker. 

Please come along to the AGM if you can or write to the Secretary Craig Robertson if you have any thoughts or matters that you wished raised under AOCB.

eaglessecretary@outlook.com

Euan Anderson

Hon Pipe Major

Match Report 21st Jan 2020 / RSPS Date

A strong turnout greeted our first meeting of the decade.

With the Hon P/M once again in sunnier climes, Hon President Gardiner was in charge of the troops.

The band ran through a number of sets to dust off the 2019 cobwebs.  The standard was very pleasing indeed. Kenny McBride, Martin Wilson and the President all played solo spots post-pies.

Trip to RSPS – 20th March 2020

 

We will be guests of The Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society on Friday 20th March at their rooms on Rose Street Lane South.  This always an outstanding evening and a celebration of what is best about piping societies.  Please put this in your diaries.

There are moves afoot to arrange an EPS trip to Glasgow to visit one of their piping societies. Watch this space.

Our AGM is on Tues 18th February.  As ever we aim for this to be short but please bring along any ideas you want considered by the Committee.  We have quadruple (that’s four) winner of The Archie Kenneth Quach, Tom Peterkin, booked in to play the piobaireachd afterwards.

 

 

 

 

2020 Dates & German TV Coverage

We will resume on 21st January 2020 with meetings following fortnightly thereafter.

AGM will be on 18th February 2020.

To keep you amused in the meantime, here is a link to the German TV show when they came to Eagles to film member Nils Michael:

German TV coverage

The hours of filming across two days boiled down to under 3 minutes of fame.  The interesting bits are right at the start, and then from about 08:40 (Eagles appear at 10:12). However, the rest of the documentary is also quite entertaining (particularly if you can speak German), with some great footage of Danny MacAskill.

The show had a market share of 10.3% in Germany that day – or 2.49 million viewers…

Have a fun Christmas break.

 

 

 

Match Report Tuesday 10th December 2019

Last nights members competition brought to a wonderful 2019 to an end for the Eagle Pipers’ Society.

The group playing is flourishing, we listened to some 16 piobaireachds throughout the year-(see the website), we had recitals from young guest players, visits from guests that included the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, but most importantly we had fun. A pie, pint and a tune amongst friends. What’s not to like?

As is now tradition the President,Douglas Gardiner, organised the end of season ‘Fun’ Competition. 12 pipers took part and the handicapped competition was judged by Susanne Speirs and Anna Gardiner, ladies who know a thing or two about piping and pipers!

How does the handicap system work? Who knows. The ladies give a score, Douglas interferes and we get a result. You will see what I mean.

The players were Lachie Dick, Jim Couper, Mikey Upton, Iain Dewar, John Murphy, Ninnian Christie,Gordon Hislop, Andrew Yu, Fergus Perks,Kenny MacBride, George Campbell and Craig Robertson.

There were 3 piping prizes and awards for the best dressed, best breakdown and most entertaining.

There was some great playing, there was some great composing, there were some strange tune names-The Elf’s snow balls, Santas Full Sacks, Beaver Bay, The Willie Hunter to give you a flavour. There were some fancy sweaters, we had flashing lights on the drones and of course we had pies.

At the end of the day the results were

1st Craig Robertson
2nd Fergus Perks
3rd equal George Campbell/Iain Dewar.

Best Breakdown-Iain Dewar
Best Dressed-Gordon Hislop
Most entertaining- George Campbell

Craig Robertson

The more astute amongst you will have picked up the anomaly of the 3rd placed Iain Dewar also winning the best breakdown. How can that be I hear you ask? Could it be that we had two lady judges who used female logic to reach the decision? A process only understood by women, (everyones a winner) or could it be that Douglas had been bribed with a chocolate finger? Who knows but as they say, the judges word is final and that is that.

What a great night and thanks to Anne and Susanne and all the players who took part.

The Society is taking a short break over the festive period and will resume on Tuesday 21st January.

Merry Christmas and have a great New Year

Euan Anderson
Hon. P/M

Match Report Tuesday 12th November 2019

I am often asked if there is a place for Piping Societies in this day and age and to be honest it is a valid question. 

The calendar is full with professional competitions and recitals, not to mention pipe band commitments, so who are they for? A question for lengthy discussion but one of the significant things societies offer is a platform to play pipes in a reasonably informal setting and to have a tune amongst friends.

Jo Barne

With this in mind it was very pleasing to welcome Edinburgh Academy  into the fold. Instructor Michael Gray had brought along 3 of his charges for a tune. The timing was perfect as it was an opportunity for a run before the Scottish Schools competition the following Friday.

Hugo MacPherson

After a short Eagles band session the 3 pupils, Joseph Barne, Hugo MacPherson and Ritchie Gardiner each took the opportunity to play solo before the pies. Jo kicked things off with the great march, The Stornoway Highland Gathering. A very musical tune and well played on a good pipe. Jo is the current Pipe Major of the school band and he finished his spot with the jig, The Glasgow City Police Pipe Band.

Hugo was up next and played a lovely MSR starting with Major Manson at Clashuntrushal. As they now say he was not arriving. He was not leaving. He was just there. Inveraray Castle and Alick C. MacGregor followed. Well done indeed.

Ritchie Gardiner

Ritchie Gardiner, under a bit of pressure as dad was keeping a keen eye on the fingers, also played an MSR that started with The Siege of Delhi, a tune composed to mark the incident that took place during the Indian rebellion of 1857. The young Gardiner acquitted himself very well and I am sure he is due a pocket money raise?

On the left, The City of Delhi Before the Siege – The Illustrated London News Jan 16, 1858.

Post pies the guys came back on and gave us their competition medley.  I am am sure they benefited from having a practice run in front of an audience.

Michael Gray concluded the evening with a few tunes that concluded with a very fine Black Donalds March. It was a rare treat for us to hear Michael and thanks to him and the boys for coming along and providing such first class entertainment. You are most welcome any time.

Michael Gray

To remind you our meeting with the Glasgow Highland Club has been cancelled and we will revert back to a normal practice night on Tuesday 26th November.

Euan Anderson

Hon P/M