The Historical Newsletters page has been updated with the release of archival B.C. Pipers’ Newsletters from 1985.
Besides the regular news of competitions and results, BCPA Life Member Bill Elder has compiled the following interesting news of that year:
- Angus Macpherson continues to write thought provoking Editorials and Peter Aumonier continues with many reports on events and proposals
- The debate continues as to the wisdom of playing a MSR more than one time through and the adjudicator putting together the MSR set from the player’s submitted tunes, including Angus Macpherson’s rebuttal to Seumas MacNeill’s article in the Piping Times
- Life Member Bill Lamont passes away. The Bill Lamont Memorial trophy for Junior M.S.R. is instituted. This trophy is presented at the Annual Gathering.
- A change to Saturday night produces large crowds for the Knock Outs. The impromptu part of one Knockout evening included “Piping Olympics” involving teams of 3 pipers who had to run a relay race, eat bad haggis, and play a tune on a bagpipe (with one person blowing, one squeezing, and one playing)
- The 53rd Annual Gathering takes place at Vancouver Technical School. PM Ian McLellan and John McDougall will be the senior adjudicators. John MacDougall gives a recital
- A review of Simon Fraser’s first Record Album.
- The Annual BCPA Dinner featured the 5 Knock Out finalists, Duncan Fraser, Rob McNeil, Andrew Bonar, Angus Macpherson and Steve Geddes. 1st place went to Andrew Bonar, 2nd Steve Geddes, 3rd Angus Macpherson.
- Donald Mackenzie, PM of the Powell River PB in the 1930s and 40s and who was instrumental in recruiting top players from Scotland to build that famous band of the 1950s and 60s, passes away.
- Reports from the Vancouver Island Pipers’ Club on their monthly evenings
- Updates on the construction of the new Scottish Auditorium (73rd and Hudson) from the United Scottish Cultural Society including a fund raising appeal. Letters to the Editor expressing several concerns
- Jim Kilpatrick, Lead Drummer of the Polkemmet PB, conducts a recital sponsored by the SFU PB
- Personal computer word processing used in Newsletter preparation and first picture appears on the cover of the Newsletter
- The debate continues on should non pipers be allowed to become active voting members of the Association.
- Results and comments about the Annual Gathering from the senior adjudicators
- Report from the 8th Annual William Livingstone Sr. Memorial Invitational. Andrew Bonar competes at the event
- Several articles introducing the members of the BCPA Board of Directors.
- PM Andy Perrie of the Vancouver Police PB steps down as PM after 17 years in the position. PS Ian Sinclair becomes the new PM
- An interesting article about the Polkemmet PB, led by PM Robert Mathieson and LD Jim Kilpatrick
- A March 1939 letter to members indicating that the piobaireachd winning the MacCrimmon Memorial Cairn be eliminated from future Cairn competitions for a period of 4 years from that date
- Many interesting pages of Band Chatter spread across all the 1985 issues.
- SFU PB places second overall in the World Pipe Band Championships, and wins the MSR event, the best ever showing by an overseas band. An article by Rob MacNeil describes the trip in detail.
- 25 pipers enter the 1985/86 Knockouts. 150 people attend the first Knockout of the season.
- The Roving Reporter reports on the Western Academy of Pipe Music Summer School.
- Announcement of a Judging Seminar to be held in December
- Report on the first plastic drone reed, manufactured by Geoff Ross of Australia
- Jack Lee writes about competing at Inverness.
- Judges comments from several Mini-Gatherings
- The December 14 Knockout will be held at the new United Scottish Cultural Centre and will be the first event in the new building.
- Donald MacPherson to judge at the Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band Festival. He will also hold a recital and conduct a mini school.
- Champion of Champions Pipe Bands 1985.
