Happy New Year and Happy Hogmanay to all our members!
The BCPA Communications team had a well deserved break for the holiday period and looks forward to bringing you more news and articles of importance and interest.
The Historical Newsletters page has been updated with the release of archival B.C. Pipers’ Newsletters from 1982.
Besides the regular news of competitions and results, BCPA Life Member Bill Elder has compiled the following interesting news of that year:
- Advertisements of Celtic music concerts with pipers
– Vancouver Folk Music Festival sponsors a Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver concert by famous Breton & Celtic piper and multi-instrumentalist Alan Stivell
– SFU Pipe Band sponsors a SFU Theatre concert by the Tannahill Weavers - Numerous ads for bands’ pub nights, dances, “smokers”, and tributes
- Article about Bill Livingstone and Jack Lee winning at the 1981 Northern Meeting.
- Article by Jim Wilson about problems with judging quality and inconsistencies his students have experienced
- Article on the 1981 resumption of the summer Coeur d’ Alene Piping School and fall workshop, following the passing of its founder Lt. Col. John McEwing in the fall of 1980
- 50th Annual Gathering, adjudicators are PM R.G. Hardie of Glasgow, Scotland and PM Bill Livingstone of Whitby, Ontario.
- February Knock-Out evening included a duet competition of teacher-juvenile pupils.
- Seattle Piping Society is formed and provides monthly articles for the Newsletter
- Bill Livingstone performs a recital.
- Bob Hardie conducts a Piping School, other instructors include Hal Senyk, Jim Hardie, Jamie Troy, and Rene Cusson
- Knock-Out semi-finalists, Bruce Gandy, Jack Lee, Jamie Troy, and Angus MacPherson. The final pitted teacher against student, Jamie Troy vs Bruce Gandy with Bruce Gandy winning and travelling to compete at the William Livingstone Sr Invitational competition in Toronto in May. The trip became the catalyst for Bruce’s subsequent move to Ontario and joining the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band
- Letter from James McIntosh reporting that he and Murray Henderson were relocating from Scotland to the United States.
- Announcement of the B.C. Scottish Festival, a 3 day event in late June including a highland games, Legion Highland Games, and the Canadian Highland Dancing Championships. PM Iain McLeod as senior adjudicator.
- Concerns expressed about damage caused to classrooms at some schools by people attending BCPA events
- Selected list of piping events in Scotland in 1982.
- Results of the 50th Annual Gathering. Bruce Gandy wins the MacCrimmon Memorial Cairn for the first time. Clan MacFarlane Pipe Band travels to compete at the Annual Gathering mini-band contest.
- Piobaireached “The Cave of Gold” written by Donald Mor MacCrimmon in 1610 submitted to the Newsletter by F.J. MacLeod.
- Several articles from the Spokane Piobaireachd Society, including Bruce Gandy winning the Banner of the Mountains for Professional Piobaireachd and David Hilder winning the Medallion for Amateur Piobaireachd at the Coeur d’ Alene Piping School.
- Article about the 50th Annual Gathering.
- News on the passing of Pipe Major Donald MacLeod M.B.E. Memorial tribute to PM MacLeod by Skye Richendrfer.
- Article from the Nelson Daily News on the death of PM Donald MacLeod.
- Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band of Christchurch, New Zealand competed at the Penticton Highland Games and received two standing ovations for their intricate marching display demonstration performance.
- BC pipe bands perform well at competitions back east.
– Chicago Highland Games: SFU Pipe Band 2nd in Grade 1, Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band 3rd in Grade 2
– North American Pipe Band Championships: SFU Pipe Band 1st, Triumph Street Pipe Band 4th
– Montreal Highland Games: Triumph Street Pipe Band 3rd, SFU Pipe Band 4th - 21 pipers enter the 1982/83 Knockout. Music requirements are changed for each round and different impromptu piping events are held following each Knockout competition.
- Article on SFU Pipe Band’s 1982 eastern trip to Chicago, Maxville, and Montreal.
- Article on “MacCrimmon Hereditary Pipers” including Iain MacCrimmon of Edmonton.
