William Gray 1883-1962
William Gray was born in Glasgow on the 9th September 1883. His father, Alexander Gray, came from Dornoch in East Sutherland, where he was born in 1848, the second of the seven children of William Gray and his wife Lilias MacKay. Willie's mother Jessie MacKinnon came from Uisken in Mull and Willie spent a lot of his childhood childhood there, with his relatives.
In 1891 aged seven Willie had his first piping tuition from Colin Thomson, a pupil of the Camerons. His next teacher was Alexander Hutcheon and following that he went to John MacDougall Gillies. Willie later composed the strathspey John MacDougall Gillies for his teacher and friend. On 23rd February 1903 William Gray joined the Govan Burgh Police and became a member of the band under Pipe Major Hutcheon. In 1906 the first World Pipe Band Championships was held at the Cowal Gathering. The winners were the HLI under Pipe Major John MacDougall Gillies and the Govan Police were in second place. According to the Piping and Dancing magazine Willie won a March competition in 1906 and at that time was a member of the Govan Police pipe band. He would probably have been playing in that first Cowal World Championship band contest. The Govan Police were the runners-up again in both the 1907 and the 1908 competitions.
William Gray was born in Glasgow on the 9th September 1883. His father, Alexander Gray, came from Dornoch in East Sutherland, where he was born in 1848, the second of the seven children of William Gray and his wife Lilias MacKay. Willie's mother Jessie MacKinnon came from Uisken in Mull and Willie spent a lot of his childhood childhood there, with his relatives.
In 1891 aged seven Willie had his first piping tuition from Colin Thomson, a pupil of the Camerons. His next teacher was Alexander Hutcheon and following that he went to John MacDougall Gillies. Willie later composed the strathspey John MacDougall Gillies for his teacher and friend. On 23rd February 1903 William Gray joined the Govan Burgh Police and became a member of the band under Pipe Major Hutcheon. In 1906 the first World Pipe Band Championships was held at the Cowal Gathering. The winners were the HLI under Pipe Major John MacDougall Gillies and the Govan Police were in second place. According to the Piping and Dancing magazine Willie won a March competition in 1906 and at that time was a member of the Govan Police pipe band. He would probably have been playing in that first Cowal World Championship band contest. The Govan Police were the runners-up again in both the 1907 and the 1908 competitions.
In 1908 Willie won the confined piobaireachd at the Argyllshire Gathering and at the 1909 Gathering he won the Gold Medal and was second in the March competition. In 1908 he was listed as William Gray, Govan but in 1909 was listed as William Gray, Govan Police. In 1910 he was again second in the march and in 1913 he won the Open Piobaireachd.
November 1912 brought a change for the Police and the pipe band with the annexation of the burgh of Govan by the ever expanding City of Glasgow The Govan Police ceased to exist and the band became the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band.
On the 25th June 1916 Willie joined up, choosing to enlist in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders where he became the Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion. After the war Willie was demobbed on 11th January 1919 and returned to the Glasgow Police. He was appointed as the Pipe Major of the band in June 1919. The solo competitions had started again and Willie had a successful year at the major events, winning the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting and the Open Piobaireachd and the March at the Argyllshire Gathering. In 1921 he won the Open Piobaireachd for the third time at the Argyllshire Gathering.
November 1912 brought a change for the Police and the pipe band with the annexation of the burgh of Govan by the ever expanding City of Glasgow The Govan Police ceased to exist and the band became the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band.
On the 25th June 1916 Willie joined up, choosing to enlist in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders where he became the Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion. After the war Willie was demobbed on 11th January 1919 and returned to the Glasgow Police. He was appointed as the Pipe Major of the band in June 1919. The solo competitions had started again and Willie had a successful year at the major events, winning the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting and the Open Piobaireachd and the March at the Argyllshire Gathering. In 1921 he won the Open Piobaireachd for the third time at the Argyllshire Gathering.
In January 1920 Willie Gray was one of the founder members of the SPA and a member of the committee from the first year. He continued to be an active member throughout his life, as a committee member, treasurer or vice-president.
After his return from the War, Willie began to show that other characteristic that was to dominate his life, the desire to pass on his knowledge to others. One of his finest pupils was Hugh Kennedy, later to be the treasurer of The SPA. He has been immortalised in the march Hugh Kennedy MA B Sc. by Peter R. MacLeod. Another stalwart of the Scottish Pipers' Association was Malcolm MacLean Currie, the long serving secretary for whom Willie Gray wrote one of his best reels, Malcolm MacLean Currie
After his return from the War, Willie began to show that other characteristic that was to dominate his life, the desire to pass on his knowledge to others. One of his finest pupils was Hugh Kennedy, later to be the treasurer of The SPA. He has been immortalised in the march Hugh Kennedy MA B Sc. by Peter R. MacLeod. Another stalwart of the Scottish Pipers' Association was Malcolm MacLean Currie, the long serving secretary for whom Willie Gray wrote one of his best reels, Malcolm MacLean Currie
In 1920 Willie took the Glasgow Police to Cowal for the first time and they won the World Championship. They went to Cowal again in 1922 and were placed second to William Fergusson's City of Glasgow Pipe Band. But a fall out with the Cowal committee, added to Willie's lack of interest in band competition left that field open to others while he concentrated on teaching the individual members for solo competition. It was to be 1933 under Pipe Major John MacDonald before the Police band returned to Cowal. Willie had in fact some wonderful players in the 1920s and 1930s, including Philip Melville, John MacDonald, Roderick MacDonald, John Johnston and many others all of whom benefited greatly from his instruction.
In collaboration with Drum Major John Seton of the Police band, another ex-Argyll, Willie produced a Tutor and Collection of Music in 1922 and a second Collection in 1925.
Willie was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, equivalent to Chief Inspector nowadays, on 11th December 1928. On 28th February 1933 he retired from the police and nominated John MacDonald as his successor. John composer the great march William Gray's Farewell to the Glasgow Police to mark his retirement.
In collaboration with Drum Major John Seton of the Police band, another ex-Argyll, Willie produced a Tutor and Collection of Music in 1922 and a second Collection in 1925.
Willie was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, equivalent to Chief Inspector nowadays, on 11th December 1928. On 28th February 1933 he retired from the police and nominated John MacDonald as his successor. John composer the great march William Gray's Farewell to the Glasgow Police to mark his retirement.
After retiring Willie to live in Islay for a time then returned to the mainland to live at Cardross. He wrote regularly for the monthly magazine Piping and Dancing from March 1939 to February 1941. Under the pen name Shamateur he wrote articles on pentatonic scales, canntaireachd, reed making, various tunes and many other topics.
He was involved with Duncan MacRae and at times acted as the piping expert for the firm. He went on to act in a similar fashion for Grainger and Campbell. He used to spend time in Grainger's workshop and was involved in the adjustment of chanters and assembling of pipes. At his home in Cardross he made reeds and chanters as a hobby.
Willie's taught many pupils at his house, some experienced players and others who were beginners.
Willie continued to be a keen supporter of the Scottish Pipers' Association throughout his life and became a vice-president. He was a regular at the weekly meetings and always willing to judge or play or to make a speech or present the prizes at any event, and was often asked to do so.
William Gray died suddenly while in the Co-Operative grocery store in Dumbarton, at 2.30pm on the 23rd February 1962. He was seventy-eight years old.
Hugh Kennedy who knew him so well paid him this tribute,
'He was a very gentlemanly type of person and personally I found him very kind. He tried his best to help everybody who was interested in pipes, it didn't matter who they were, he had all types of people going about him and getting lessons on the pipes. He spent, I would say, his whole life practically, exclusively and completely on the bagpipe in all its aspects.'
He was involved with Duncan MacRae and at times acted as the piping expert for the firm. He went on to act in a similar fashion for Grainger and Campbell. He used to spend time in Grainger's workshop and was involved in the adjustment of chanters and assembling of pipes. At his home in Cardross he made reeds and chanters as a hobby.
Willie's taught many pupils at his house, some experienced players and others who were beginners.
Willie continued to be a keen supporter of the Scottish Pipers' Association throughout his life and became a vice-president. He was a regular at the weekly meetings and always willing to judge or play or to make a speech or present the prizes at any event, and was often asked to do so.
William Gray died suddenly while in the Co-Operative grocery store in Dumbarton, at 2.30pm on the 23rd February 1962. He was seventy-eight years old.
Hugh Kennedy who knew him so well paid him this tribute,
'He was a very gentlemanly type of person and personally I found him very kind. He tried his best to help everybody who was interested in pipes, it didn't matter who they were, he had all types of people going about him and getting lessons on the pipes. He spent, I would say, his whole life practically, exclusively and completely on the bagpipe in all its aspects.'
