Do you have any memories of The Scottish Pipers Association ? if so and you would like to share them, please send me details
rgrossart@scottishpipersassociation.co.uk
rgrossart@scottishpipersassociation.co.uk
Your memories are important part of The SPA history, the influence it has given and the comradery it has help develop amoungst all with an interest in piping
Hello Rory,
I noticed on the CoP editors blog that you had established a website.
Although you do not know me, I have been around the Piping scene for most of my life, not in the Professional sense but as someone who has so many friends in Piping.
The reason for me contacting you is that my Dad came from Craich on the Isle of Mull, my Grandmother Isabella Beaton was a cousin of the late Allan C Beaton who was was a stalwart of The Scottish Pipers Association. When I was a wee boy my Uncle Allan (as I always referred to him) took me to the Highlanders Institute (in the Gym in Elmbank Street) every Saturday night so that I could listen to some of the best Pipers at that time.
The usual scenario was Uncle Allan would come down from Oban (he worked for The Department of Ag & Fisheries at that time) on a Friday , stay with Duncan and Effie MacFadyen on the Friday in Cardonald, (John , Duncan, Hector, Iain, Freena and Christine's Mum and Dad) and come for tea at our house on the Saturday and then he would take take me to the Highlanders on the Saturday night . On Sunday after breakfast he would return to Oban.
As I, taking, after my Mum, was a proficient Highland Dancer , Robert Reid invited to Dance at the Opening and Closing Ceilidh of the SPA which I did for a long number of years. Uncle Allan made me a Life Member of the Association , at that time I think I was the youngest Life Member.
My reason for contacting you has been as explained , but more so by the death of my pal , wee Kenny. Kenny and I started chanter on the same night with Peter Mac Farquhar and continued for several years and remained personal friends until his death.
I had the pleasure of being of being a Piper in the famous Band of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders with my P/M Evan McRae, Pipe Sergeant Willie Macdonald ( Benbecula ) Iain MacFadyen ,John McDougall and lots of other good Pipers from the Island's. Boss man was Lt Cl. David J.S. Murray.
I am Director of Piping for the Worlds Highland Championships at Cowal having played for the last 43 Years together with The Argyllshire Gathering and most of other Major Events.
I have many memories of the SPA and had many of the "Club Pipers" play for me as a Dancer including, Robert Reid, Willie Connell, Angus Campbell, John MacFadyen. I did play the Club Pipes on several occasions as was encouraged , was not put off by the Big Boys, At the age of fourteen I went to wee Peter MacLeod in Partick so you will realise I was well taught.
Hope the website will do well !
Iain C Macdonald
I noticed on the CoP editors blog that you had established a website.
Although you do not know me, I have been around the Piping scene for most of my life, not in the Professional sense but as someone who has so many friends in Piping.
The reason for me contacting you is that my Dad came from Craich on the Isle of Mull, my Grandmother Isabella Beaton was a cousin of the late Allan C Beaton who was was a stalwart of The Scottish Pipers Association. When I was a wee boy my Uncle Allan (as I always referred to him) took me to the Highlanders Institute (in the Gym in Elmbank Street) every Saturday night so that I could listen to some of the best Pipers at that time.
The usual scenario was Uncle Allan would come down from Oban (he worked for The Department of Ag & Fisheries at that time) on a Friday , stay with Duncan and Effie MacFadyen on the Friday in Cardonald, (John , Duncan, Hector, Iain, Freena and Christine's Mum and Dad) and come for tea at our house on the Saturday and then he would take take me to the Highlanders on the Saturday night . On Sunday after breakfast he would return to Oban.
As I, taking, after my Mum, was a proficient Highland Dancer , Robert Reid invited to Dance at the Opening and Closing Ceilidh of the SPA which I did for a long number of years. Uncle Allan made me a Life Member of the Association , at that time I think I was the youngest Life Member.
My reason for contacting you has been as explained , but more so by the death of my pal , wee Kenny. Kenny and I started chanter on the same night with Peter Mac Farquhar and continued for several years and remained personal friends until his death.
I had the pleasure of being of being a Piper in the famous Band of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders with my P/M Evan McRae, Pipe Sergeant Willie Macdonald ( Benbecula ) Iain MacFadyen ,John McDougall and lots of other good Pipers from the Island's. Boss man was Lt Cl. David J.S. Murray.
I am Director of Piping for the Worlds Highland Championships at Cowal having played for the last 43 Years together with The Argyllshire Gathering and most of other Major Events.
I have many memories of the SPA and had many of the "Club Pipers" play for me as a Dancer including, Robert Reid, Willie Connell, Angus Campbell, John MacFadyen. I did play the Club Pipes on several occasions as was encouraged , was not put off by the Big Boys, At the age of fourteen I went to wee Peter MacLeod in Partick so you will realise I was well taught.
Hope the website will do well !
Iain C Macdonald