Around 1904 he married and started in business in Merryland Street, Govan, as a joiner and builder. This swiftly prospered. Although he was born James McIver his business traded as James McIvor.
In 1906 he was again at the Argyllshire Gathering where he won the Silver Medal in a new competition introduced in 1903 for those who had not won a first prize at a major event. In 1907 he played for the Gold Medal again and was placed third. In 1910 he competed again and was third equal in the Gold Medal. In later years he sponsored piping competitions and became a piping judge. He judged both solo piping and pipe bands at the Cowal Games for many years.
The absence of available labour during the first World War 1914-1918 reduced his business. Also although only in his early fifties his health began to break down. After the War he resumed his business on a greatly reduced scale. He pursued his piping and judging activities and worked only a few hours a day. His pupils included some well known competitors. J B Robertson of the Scots Guards wrote to him in 1932, saying he would be in Scotland for a month and would like to arrange some lessons before Oban. In addition to the SPA he was involved with the Glasgow Caithness Benevolent Association and was piper to the Clan Campbell Society. His friends included Sir William Smith founder of the B.B. for whom he composed a tune, and Sir Harry Lauder the first Music Hall performer to be knighted.
In 1932 he suffered a severe stroke from which he never fully recovered and died in 29 June 1936 age 70. He is reported as being quiet and courteous but very very determined. He remained a fluent Gaelic speaker throughout his life. He died a fairly wealthy man.
In 1906 he was again at the Argyllshire Gathering where he won the Silver Medal in a new competition introduced in 1903 for those who had not won a first prize at a major event. In 1907 he played for the Gold Medal again and was placed third. In 1910 he competed again and was third equal in the Gold Medal. In later years he sponsored piping competitions and became a piping judge. He judged both solo piping and pipe bands at the Cowal Games for many years.
The absence of available labour during the first World War 1914-1918 reduced his business. Also although only in his early fifties his health began to break down. After the War he resumed his business on a greatly reduced scale. He pursued his piping and judging activities and worked only a few hours a day. His pupils included some well known competitors. J B Robertson of the Scots Guards wrote to him in 1932, saying he would be in Scotland for a month and would like to arrange some lessons before Oban. In addition to the SPA he was involved with the Glasgow Caithness Benevolent Association and was piper to the Clan Campbell Society. His friends included Sir William Smith founder of the B.B. for whom he composed a tune, and Sir Harry Lauder the first Music Hall performer to be knighted.
In 1932 he suffered a severe stroke from which he never fully recovered and died in 29 June 1936 age 70. He is reported as being quiet and courteous but very very determined. He remained a fluent Gaelic speaker throughout his life. He died a fairly wealthy man.
James MacIvor 1866-1936. 2nd President 1926-33
James McIvor was born in 1866 at Stirkoke near Wick Caithness. His father John MacIver was a mason employed by a local laird and lived in a tied cottage. His mother's name was Ann MacLeod. After only 2 years formal schooling he was sent away from home to work on farms looking after cattle and sheep as a herdsboy. At age 17 he commenced a joinery apprenticeship and progressed with such speed he was granted a journeyman's certificate after only 3 years. It normally took 6-7 years. He spent the next 15 years travelling and working between Glasgow and London working hard and saving hard. On arriving in Glasgow around 1886 he attended evening classes for some four years at the Royal Technical College winning regular class prizes.
His outside interest was playing the bagpipe, a pursuit at which he excelled. He was attached to various army and T.A. units but was never a soldier. From the early 1890s for about ten years he was a member of the pipe band of the 1st Lanark Rifle Volunteers and in 1903 he was a candidate for the position of Pipe Major in the 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers. His first appearance as a solo competitor was at Dunbeath in Caithness in 1884 where he won two firsts. After moving to Glasgow he competed regularly at the Games and won several prizes at the Coronation Games in Greenock. His first appearance in a major prize list was in 1897 was he was placed third in the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering. In 1902 he took second prize in the same event.
James McIvor was born in 1866 at Stirkoke near Wick Caithness. His father John MacIver was a mason employed by a local laird and lived in a tied cottage. His mother's name was Ann MacLeod. After only 2 years formal schooling he was sent away from home to work on farms looking after cattle and sheep as a herdsboy. At age 17 he commenced a joinery apprenticeship and progressed with such speed he was granted a journeyman's certificate after only 3 years. It normally took 6-7 years. He spent the next 15 years travelling and working between Glasgow and London working hard and saving hard. On arriving in Glasgow around 1886 he attended evening classes for some four years at the Royal Technical College winning regular class prizes.
His outside interest was playing the bagpipe, a pursuit at which he excelled. He was attached to various army and T.A. units but was never a soldier. From the early 1890s for about ten years he was a member of the pipe band of the 1st Lanark Rifle Volunteers and in 1903 he was a candidate for the position of Pipe Major in the 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers. His first appearance as a solo competitor was at Dunbeath in Caithness in 1884 where he won two firsts. After moving to Glasgow he competed regularly at the Games and won several prizes at the Coronation Games in Greenock. His first appearance in a major prize list was in 1897 was he was placed third in the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering. In 1902 he took second prize in the same event.
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