This section of the website is intended to provide a brief insight into the history of The Scottish Pipe Band Association/Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association; and also to provide information about some of the key individuals who have influenced the development of the Association over the years.

The content of the section represents primarily the work of the Association's Historical Research Group. Additional historical information about individuals, events, Pipe Bands etc will be added as and when available.

The Association’s History

The Association was founded initially as The Scottish Pipe Band Association (SPBA) in 1930 to meet the need for an authoritative governing body to organise and grade Pipe Bands, and to draw up rules and regulations for the effective running of Pipe Band competitions. Pipe Band competitions had been on record from as early as 1905, held in localities throughout Scotland and Ireland in particular.  Competition was seen as an effective way of raising standards of performance, but there was no recognised mechanism for co-ordinating the activities or for setting standards.

The person with ideas on how improvement could be made was Pipe Major William Sloan BEM of the Maclean Pipe Band in Glasgow. On the ferry returning from the Cowal Highland Gathering in 1930, he broached the subject of a Pipe Band Association when in friendly conversation with two of his contemporaries -  Pipe Majors John MacConnacher of the Anchor Mills Pipe Band in Paisley, and George McDonald of the Millhall Pipe Band from Stirlingshire, two well-known and highly esteemed Pipe Majors at that time.  Both these gentlemen thought the idea highly commendable and this led to an exploratory meeting with interested Pipe Bands in Oatlands, Glasgow in October that year.  Those who attended agreed unanimously that an Association should be formed forthwith and an interim Committee was appointed with William Sloan as Chairman and Donald Mclntosh of the Clan McRae Society Pipe Band as Secretary. A Constitution and Rules document was quickly drawn up and adopted unanimously; and the Association was launched in October 1930 with William Sloan as the first President and Donald Mclntosh as Honorary Secretary.

From the outset the Aims and Objects of the Association, which still stand today, were set as follows:

• To promote and encourage the culture and advancement of Pipe Band Music internationally, and to sponsor a Pipe Band College;
• To create and maintain a bond of fellowship with all Pipe Band personnel throughout the world without discrimination as to colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins;
• To devise and operate a proper system of Pipe Band Contest Rules; and
• To organise the World, European, British, Scottish and all Major Championships held within the United Kingdom.

From such small beginnings the Association has grown into the large organisation which is recognised world-wide today. Some of the important milestones which have taken place since 1930 include:

• the first World Pipe Band Championships organised by the SPBA in 1947;
• agreement of the SPBA Coat of Arms by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Edinburgh, with the motto “Ceol na h-Alba” -  “Music of Scotland”;
• formation of a Pipe Band College in 1947;
• the Silver Jubilee in 1955;
• publication of the first SPBA Tutor & Textbooks in 1962 and 1970;
• the Golden Jubilee in 1980, when “Royal” status was conferred by Her Majesty, The Queen;
• the Silver Jubilee in 1990;
• introduction of the Structured Learning Programme 1990-1992;
• the first Major Pipe Band Championships held outwith the UK (the European Championships in Belgium in 2003);
• the 75th Anniversary in 2005;
• the joint venture in 2006 with the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, College of Piping, National Piping Centre and Piobaireachd Society to form the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB)
• approval as a Scottish Qualifications Authority Examinations Centre in 2009.

A comprehensive account of the Association’s history is available in the publication “How it all began: and the first 75 years” which can be purchased from our online store.  This interesting booklet was compiled by the RSPBA’s Historical Research Group and published in December 2007.

The Historical Research Group, formed in 2006, comprises a small number of individuals interested in unearthing information about the Association and the Pipe Band movement in general. The Group has been gradually developing displays at RSPBA Headquarters which include a wide range of memorabilia relating to Piping, Pipe Band Drumming, Pipe Bands and key individuals who have influenced the development of the Association.  The displays include historical examples of rope tension and rod tension drums, piping and drumming equipment, photographs, written articles about individuals who have been involved with the Association, a collection of DVDs and CDs containing footage and recordings of Pipe Band performances, displays of old competition trophies and a wide range of other material to reflect different stages in the Association’s development. The Historical Research Group is always looking for additional contributions.  If anyone has anything of interest to offer please let the Group know through RSPBA Headquarters.

Individuals who have influenced the SPBA/RSPBA

In this section of the website we are a building up a collection of articles written by the Historical Research Group about individuals who have played a major role in the development of the Association over the years. The section will be gradually expanded as and when more information and articles compiled.

Pipe Major William Sloan BEM

William Sloan BEM was one of the four founders of the SPBA.  Willie, as he was known, was from Glasgow and he learned to play pipes in the Boy’s Brigade. He was married to May, they had a daughter and he enjoyed playing golf.  He was known universally and was at ease with people from all walks of life, including youngsters to whom he never denied a minute of his time.

From an article in “The Pipe Band” magazine, we knew that he served in the first World War and was badly wounded and invalided out of the Army after spending 18 months in hospital, but we did not know what regiment he served in or where.  On asking Jeannie Campbell of the College of Piping if she had any information about him, she suggested that a look in the book “The Pipes of War”, by Seton and Grant, might help.  This book lists pipers who served in the Great War. It was quite a surprise to find this entry on page 146:

The Middlesex Regiment
16th Battalion
2530. Piper William Sloan, wounded October 1916, Somme.
This was the first English regiment to have a pipe band, the men being recruited for the purpose in Glasgow.

The only problem was we did not know if this piper was our William Sloan. The story of the Pipe Band of the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment is interesting, if not unique, and probably deserves a separate article.  After the Battle of the Somme the Battalion suffered heavy losses and was eventually disbanded, but the Pipe Band was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment and was not disbanded until the end of the war.

Research over several months revealed quite a lot of information on the Pipe Band of the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment but still no confirmation that 2530 William Sloan was our Willie. Then a stroke of luck - whilst Tony Harris was on a battlefield trip to Arnhem, when in casual conversation the tour guide said he had just read a book on the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion.  Tony subsequently obtained a copy of this book and on page 288 was listed:

Piper William Sloane 2188. Wounded on the Somme, October 1916. Became Pipe Major and founded Scottish Pipe Band Association. Died June 22nd 1974.

The difference in Army numbers is confusing and the spelling of Sloan, sometimes with an e, has not helped, but we do feel there is no doubt we have found the right man. Ironically, two days after we had confirmed this Jeannie Campbell rang to say she had found a short article in the Piping Times also confirming this information.

After the War Willie took up a career in industry rising to a senior position. He also gathered together a group of young pipers and drummers to form his famous Maclean Pipe Band. This band was very successful, winning the World Pipe Band Championship four times. Among the players were pipers Donald MacIntosh and Robert McCreath, both office bearers in The Scottish Pipe Band Association in later years, and Dan Turrant, a fine player on the rope tension drum, regrettably killed early in the 2nd World war.  The Maclean Pipe Band was said to be the first band to wear the Prince Charlie style uniform.

The Maclean Pipe Band had its origins in the Glasgow YMCA Pipe Band, of which Willie Sloan was the last Pipe Major.  He was the first and only Pipe Major of the Maclean Pipe Band.  The Band officially came into existence in 1921 and the first practices were held in a contractor’s shed in the south side of Glasgow. The name of the Band was derived from a Dr Maclean who had been a significant financial contributor to the YMCA Pipe Band.  The Band won its first World Championship at Cowal Games in 1927.

In the second World War Willie Sloan was awarded the BEM for his contribution to industrial development of a secretive nature

Willie was the first President of The Scottish Pipe Band Association, holding that 0ffice from 1931 to 1934. He was also Secretary of the Association from 1962 to 1969.  In 1953 he took on the additional work of Editor of ”The Pipe Band” magazine and in 1971, with PRO Charles Nicholas, the writing of a brochure covering the growth and progress of The Scottish Pipe Band Association.

THE PIPE BAND OF THE16th (PUBLIC SCHOOLS) BATTALION OF THE MIDDLESEX REGIMENT
PERHAM DOWN, SALISBURY PLAIN, AUGUST 1915
L/Sgt Pipe Major Charles Stewart and Pipers John Grant, WILLIAM SLOAN, Fred Carruthers, Norman McDonald,
Dugald McFarlane, Henry Michelson, Thomas Latham, James Gilchrist and John Kerr
Pipe Corporal Thomas Gibson and Drummer William Sloan. Three Drummers unnamed.

Alex Douglas (A D) Hamilton DCM

“AD” Hamilton was one of The Scottish Pipe Band Association’s (SPBA) early pioneers who played a significant role in the development of Pipe Band music as we know it today.  He served as a Drum Major in the Seaforth Highlanders during the First World War. On returning to civilian life he studied music and began to play in local orchestras and bands in the Glasgow area. He also became involved in tutoring Pipe Bands, having become interested in the percussion side during the mid 1920s. At the end of the 1920s he was appointed Drum Major of the 9th (Dumbartonshire) Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.  He also played percussion in the Glasgow City Orchestra on a full-time basis.

In 1931 he published “Drum Scores”, a collection of scores for Pipe Band snare, tenor and bass drums.  He also wrote a number of forward-looking articles which were published in the then “Piper & Dancing” magazine. In 1936, along with Drum Major John Seton, he was asked to assist in establishing the then SPBA’s Pipe Band College (although for various reasons it was not until after the Second World War that the College was fully established). “A D” was subsequently appointed Musical Director of the SPBA and became involved in Pipe Band Drumming adjudication.

Alex Hamilton was a strong advocate of the “integrated Pipe Band”, whereby the Drum Corps of a Pipe Band collectively influences and enhances the overall musical effect. In 1935 he wrote an interesting article in the “Piping and Dancing” magazine entitled “A Straight Talk to Drummers” in which he recommended the process of creating a monotone for each pipe tune before writing the drum score, as a means of identifying the rhythmic patterns from the note groupings.  His argument was that rhythm is one of the most important principles of music.  He was also strongly of the view that the secret of success lay in the knowledge of drum technique and the ability to play drum rudiments properly, including good roll quality. This approach, almost 75 years ago, is not significantly different to that recommended by the RSPBA for Pipe Bands participating in its Musical Appreciation and Presentation competition project.

A D Hamilton was also one of the pioneers of the concept of Pipe Band Ensemble and he lectured frequently on the subject on behalf of the SPBA.  He was often seen as controversial; and many of his peers did not agree with his views. Nevertheless, the following extract from a lecture he gave in 1947 provides an interesting example of his musical perspective in a Pipe Band context:

“It is fortunate that we have a number of enthusiasts amongst us keen on a better musical combination but, on the other hand, we still have a very large proportion who might become a little more enlightened if they could be made to take a little interest in the combined effect of a pipe band and not look on the band either from a piping or drumming point of view.”

“Our present method of adjudicating at a contest will never encourage collaboration between pipes and drums. A Pipe-Major judging the piping and a Drum-Major judging the drumming with no award for the best combined effort is hardly likely to improve the standard towards a more musical performance.  Another obstacle in the way of a better combined effort is the present practice of awarding a drumming prize at some contests.”

Another of AD’s many visionary quotes is also worth noting:

“Music seems to be an ever ending subject, the more you listen the more you want to know and the older you become the more mature your outlook takes place.”

Sadly Alex Hamilton passed away during the 1970s but he left a significant musical legacy, particularly in the context of Pipe Band Ensemble, which is still being discussed and built upon today.

John Kerr MacAllister

John Kerr MacAllister (affectionately known as JK) passed away on 6 March 2008 at the age of 85 leaving a legacy in the Pipe Band world and in the RSPBA which few will ever surpass.  Born and bred in the small town of Shotts in North Lanarkshire, John was one of three sons who inherited their piping skills from their father, Pipe Major Tom MacAllister BEM. On leaving school John took up the trade of apprentice joiner before becoming a member of the Gordon Highlanders at the outbreak of World War 2.

John served in North Africa (Tunisia), Sicily and Italy with the 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders between December 1942 and January 1945.  The 6th Battalion landed at Algiers on 13 March 1943 and took part in the Battles of Banana Ridge and Longstop Hill on their way to Tunis. By 12 May 1943 Tunis had fallen and a celebration parade, headed by Massed Pipe Bands, was held in Tunis in front of General Eisenhower on 20 May 1943. A final victory parade in front of General Eisenhower took place on 4 September the same year.  After the capture of Tunis the Battalion had a short unopposed landing on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria before sailing for Italy and landing unopposed on 21 January 1944 north of Anzio. In February 1944, 6th Battalion came under heavy German attack and suffered heavy losses until relieved.  The Battalion continued to man the Anzio line until May/June 1944, when it took part in the Allied advance on Rome.  On 8 January 1945 the Drums and Pipes led the parade through Rome to the Vatican. The Battalion then moved to Haifa, Palestine in January 1945, where it remained until it was disbanded in 1946.

During his Army career John MacAllister was a Piper in the Regimental Drums and Pipes of the Gordons.  The Drums and Pipes of the Gordon Highlanders (named in that order) are reputed to be the first Army Pipe Band.  The Drums being foremost in the name are claimed to reflect the fact that Drummers were an integral part of early military Regiments as a means of beating out commands, and for marching purposes.  It was not until the mid 1800s that Bagpipes were recognised officially in Scottish Regiments resulting in the formation of Pipe Bands.

At this stage in his career John had not achieved the status of Pipe Major.  There is, however, evidence in the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming that he attended in March 1946 a Piping Course at the then Army School at Edinburgh Castle, conducted by Pipe Major Willie Ross. The course appeared to be similar to the current Senior Pipers Course, from which Pipers achieve the recommendation to embark on the Pipe Majors’ Course.  The Army School list of students who attended the March 1946 Course was as follows:

PM R Batt 21G
LCpl MacAllister Trg Bn IG
PM Grant 2SG
PSgt K Roe 1SG
LSgt J Roe 1SG
Piper T Ainslie BW
Fus W Thomson RSF
Piper J Hamilton Seaforth Hldrs
Cpl J MacAllister 6th Gordon Hldrs
PM J Cockburn 2RS
Pte W Thomson RSF
Pte j G Thomson Gordon Hldrs
LCpl J Kilgour SG

Following his Army service John became an employee of the renowned Bagpipe Makers, William Sinclair of Edinburgh before returning to his trade as a joiner.  During the 1950s, along with his brothers, he entered into partnership with the late Andrew Warnock of “The Pipers Cave” in Northern Ireland to develop the War-Mac Pipe Chanter using the revolutionary polypenco material.  This led to a highly successful reed-making business venture in Shotts in 1970, along with brothers Tom and William, which operated under the “JWT” logo until it ceased trading during the 1990s, when the business was taken over by James W Troy & Son of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

In 1954 John took over as Pipe Major of the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band in succession to his father. Under his leadership the Band won four World Pipe Band Championship titles consecutively from 1957 to 1960; and in 1959 he led the Band to winning all the Major Championships that year. By the time he retired from the Band in 1968 he had collected 44 first prizes, 26 of these being in Major Championships.

John also played a major and influential role in the development of The Scottish Pipe Band Association (SPBA), which also continued after the organisation became The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA). He was a strong advocate for the education and training of Pipers and Drummers. He was a major influence in the introduction of musical Medleys in Pipe Band competitions and he was a leader in the campaign which eventually saw the introduction of Ensemble adjudication at Major Pipe Band Championships.   In 1955, as a member of the Advisory Board of the then SPBA Pipe Band College, along with Alex D Hamilton, William Sloan BEM and Alex Duthart, he embarked on a project to develop the Association’s first Tutor and Textbook, which was eventually published in 1962 and led to the RSPBA Structured Learning programme which is in place today. In 1968 he also led the House Committee of the SPBA which carried out the alterations necessary when the Association acquired its existing Headquarters at 45 Washington Street, Glasgow.

Following his competing career John continued his Piping and Pipe Band involvement as an RSPBA Piping and Ensemble Adjudicator. During that time he also played a major role in the education and training of Adjudicators and was a leading member of the RSPBA Adjudicators’ Training Group until his retiral from the Adjudicators’ Panel in 1993. Shortly thereafter, in recognition of his major contribution and influence, he was appointed Honorary Vice-President of the Association by the RSPBA National Council.

Over the years John MacAllister played a leading and visionary role in the development of the RSPBA as we know it today as well as the development of Pipe Band music in general. Many individuals have benefited from his advice and guidance, including players in Pipe Bands worldwide and a significant number of the RSPBA’s current Adjudicators.  He has left a great legacy to the Pipe Band world which should be an inspiration to all.

Alex Duthart

In researching the history of the development of the SPBA/RSPBA, a name which frequently comes to the fore is that of Alex Duthart, who arguably had the greatest influence on Pipe Band percussion as we know it today.

Born in 1925 in the village of Cambusnethan, near Wishaw, Alex was the son of John Duthart who played both the Bass Drum and the Snare Drum in the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the First World War. Taught by his father, Alex joined the Craigneuk Parish Church Juvenile Pipe Band at the age of 12.  In 1942 he joined the Dalziel Highland Pipe Band under Leading Drummer Jimmy Catherwood.  The Dalziel Band amalgamated with the 6th Battalion Lanarkshire Home Guard Pipe Band, the Leading Drummer of which was Gordon Jelly, another pupil of Jimmy Catherwood. Alex Duthart subsequently took over as Leading Drummer of Dalziel Highland in 1949 when Gordon Jelly departed to become Leading Drummer of the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band. Alex won his first World Championships drumming prize in 1953.  After that he left the Pipe Band scene for a time to pursue a career as a dance band drummer, before joining the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band in 1957 as Leading Drummer under Pipe Major John MacAllister.  Thereafter Alex played for Shotts and Dykehead for almost 30 years, apart from short periods with the Invergordon Distillery and Edinburgh City Police Pipe Bands.  During this time he amassed an impressive array of Championship first places in Band, Drum Corps and Solo competitions. He finished his playing career with the British Caledonian Airways Pipe Band under Pipe Major Harry McNulty; and sadly, it was while playing with BCal that he died from a heart attack during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in 1986.

Alex Duthart claimed his main influences to be Alex D Hamilton, Jimmy Catherwood (also Leading Drummer of Dalziel Highland Pipe Band), Paddy Donovan (famous Pipe Band Drummer from Dublin), and Alex McCormick of Glasgow Police Pipe Band. Few would argue, however, that he was the pioneer of a new style of Pipe Band drumming accompaniment and percussion which set the scene for a different type of “musical” focus on Pipe Bands; the introduction of medley competitions alongside the traditional March, Strathspey and Reel format; and the evolution of Ensemble adjudication at SPBA/RSPBA Major Championships.

Alex Duthart was also a key player in the development of the SPBA’s education and training programme.  Along with Alex Hamilton, John MacAllister and Pipe Major William Sloan BEM, he was a partner in the project which produced the Association’s first Tutor & Textbook, a seven year project which was completed in 1962, as well as the second volume which was published in 1970. He also travelled the world extensively promoting Pipe Bands and Pipe Band Drumming through demonstrations, workshops and training sessions. His influence is still seen in the Drum Corps of Pipe Bands worldwide and his drum scores are still used widely by leading Pipe Bands and individuals.

The Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band

The Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band was founded in January 1914 by the late Pipe Major Farquhar MacRae, who was for nearly 30 years previously Pipe Major of the 7th Battalion (Blythswood) Highland Light Infantry.  He resigned from the Territorials after the Annual Camp of 1913 and, along with the majority of his Band, he formed the City of Glasgow Pipe Band as it was then called.  Bearing in mind that the 7th HLI won the World Pipe Band Championship at the Cowal Gathering in Dunoon in 1913, it will be realised that the playing of the newly formed Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band would be of a very high standard, and so it proved as they gained 2nd prize at the Glasgow Corporation contest in the Spring of 1914.  Soon afterwards on the 4th of August the call to War came and was heard, so that the Band was dismembered until 1920, when it was re-united under Pipe Major William Fergusson (Pipe Major Farquhar MacRae having passed away in 1916).

Pipe Major Fergusson succeeded Pipe Major MacRae in the 7th HLI and served in Gallipoli, Palestine and France, and was also in charge of the 52nd Divisional Pipe Band in Egypt. Unassuming to a degree, his practical and theoretical knowledge of the elements essential to the success of a Pipe Band were second to none, and the superiority of his Band in the 1920s was greatly due to the fine spirit of emulation which he instilled into his Pipers and Drummers. A good player himself, he was a composer of outstanding merit and the beautiful melodies of his tunes are still unsurpassed.  The excellence of the Band at this stage is clearly established in reading the World Championship results from 1921 to 1927 – first on four occasions and second on three occasions. In addition they gained the Sir Harry Lauder Shield for Bands of not more than 12 players on five occasions – 4 first places and one second.

Following a very severe accident at his employment Pipe Major Fergusson was forced to give up active participation in the Band and he was succeeded by Hamish McColl MM, who had been a member of the Band since its inception and who had also been in the 7th HLI for a number of years previously. In the Army during the War, Hamish McColl had been appointed Pipe Major and for gallantry in the field had been awarded the Military Medal.  Pipe Major McColl continued the good work of Pipe Major Fergusson but resigned after about 18 months, being succeeded in turn by John Findlay Nicoll, who had joined the Band in 1920 and whose previous service had been with the 6th HLI. The Band had a very successful period, gaining the World Championship on 3 successive years (1932, 1933 and 1934) and the Championship of the Scottish Pipe Band Association in the years 1933, 1934 and 1935; but it was becoming increasingly clear that the high standard set by the Band was being emulated by other competing Bands and that much of the previous leeway had been made up so that it was much more difficult for one Band to lead conspicuously as in the 1920s.  Nevertheless the MacRaes continued to secure a good share of prizes right up to the time of the Second World War when for a second time the Band became disrupted through the absence of its members with the Forces.  On resuming in early 1946 after a suspended period of over 6 years, the advantage gained by Bands which had managed to keep going during the War years was difficult to overcome, but the MacRaes continued to get into the prize lists. In 1947 at Murrayfield, at the first World Pipe Band Championships promoted by the SPBA, the Band gained 2nd place. After 1946 the Band gained 24 first and 17 second prizes.

In 1950 Pipe Major Nicoll was forced to relinquish his post on account of ill-health and was again succeeded by a member of the Band in the person of Alexander Macleod, a pupil of Pipe Major Fergusson.  Pipe Major Macleod, of Ross-shire extraction, was like his predecessor in the Band unassuming and modest to an extraordinary degree.

In addition to the usual local contests the Band competed in contests at Aberdeen, Morecambe (2), Belfast (2) and Douglas, Isle of Man (7) – indeed wherever there were contests there were the MacRaes.  It is interesting to learn that Tenor Drummer Charles McIntosh had been a member of the Band since 1920 and like Johnny Walker was still going strong. He was the doyen and hero of all Tenor Drummers.  He served in the First World War in the 7th HLI and 52nd Divisional Pipe Band under Pipe Major Fergusson.

The Band was made up entirely of a cross section of working men and owing to this was seldom able to accept engagements except in the evening or Saturday afternoons.  They were the only private Band who had been able to maintain their high position over the period of 40 years against all comers.

The grand total of 87 first prizes and well over 50 second prizes had been gained by the Band. They were Champions of the World on eight occasions and winners of the Supreme Championship at Cowal (Argyll Shield) on nine occasions.

This article was written by Donald McIntosh (now deceased) of the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band, and has been reproduced by the RSPBA Historical Research Group. Donald McIntosh was the first Secretary of the Scottish Pipe Band Association when it was formed in 1930.

The Influence of the Boy’s Brigade on Piping

Brian Lynch

Brian Lynch’s interest in Piping started through his father, who was neither a Piper nor a member of the Boy’s Brigade. He was of that generation of men who had fought in World War 2 and consequently had been in close proximity to the instrument and had witnessed is emotive power.

Born in 1947, Brian’s family at that time lived in Paisley, in the last old tenement down at the bottom of Springbank Road (gas lighting in house and street); and his mother was a member of the North Parish Church.  The local Mossvale Church had the 15th Paisley BB company which had a Pipe Band and a Bugle Band.  It was a big event locally when the Bands marched and played the company back from Gilmour St Station on their return from annual camp. There were fewer material distractions in these days, so a BB company which had a camp, football team, bands etc was generally in fairly good shape as regards membership.

When Brian was about 7 or 8, his father was working as a pool attendant in the Paisley baths at the bottom of Storie Street. On his way to work he would pass the little Church Hall there which belonged to the Orr Square Church and he could listen to the 23rd Paisley BB Pipe Band practicing inside. The Church also had a linked "Lifeboy" company and, on observing the noise and general energy emitting from these activities, he decided that some of this would be appropriate for Brian, and thus Brian started with the Lifeboys, taking the bus along with another youngster and chaperoned there and back by an elder boy (who was probably 10 years old).

In those days there were many ex-Army Pipers around who would respond when the BB needed instructors.  The 23rd Paisley BB Pipe Band was regarded locally as a pretty good band by the standards of the day. At the same time Paisley had two adult Pipe Bands - the Paisley British Legion and Anchor Mills Pipe Bands. Other BB Pipe bands in Paisley at the time included the 15th Mossvale, the 4th (High Church) and the 18th Methodist Central Halls. Pipe Bands used to accompany works outings and the 23rd Paisley BB Pipe Band played from the their hall to the square at Gilmour Street Station where a special train took the Paisley Post Office workers and families to the Ayrshire coast for the day.

As all BB Pipe-Majors know, the size and success of their bands is cyclical and the 23rd Paisley BB fell away after that as boys left and went to work. The call went out to find a new Pipe Major and Angus McVicker stepped forward to try to re-establish the band. At this time the 23rd's core recruiting areas of old Paisley (Canal St etc) were being impacted by large scale redevelopment and many people were relocated to new housing schemes on the fringes of the town such as Glenburn and Foxbar. Brian Lynch started to learn when he was about 9/10 with a whitewood chanter, a Logan’s Tutor along with a few of his BB friends.  The drum corps evolved with training by a Mr Adam, an original band member, and also at one stage by John Noble Snr, who went on to become an RSPBA champion Drum Major.

As the players struggled to master the basics, Mr McVicker (who later returned to playing the pipes as a member of the successful Kilbarchan Pipe Band in Grades 3 and 2 in the late 1960s/early 1970s) had to give up for family reasons.  Roddy McLennan (a former RBL Piper) then took over and a fairly basic BB Pipe Band was established.  The band had a rope tension Bass Drum with the BB company number and crest on the front. The Snare Drums were black and among the first of the rod tension drums made by the Premier drum company.  The band won the Battalion Pipe Band contest at Barshaw Park around 1961 and played all the way back down the Glasgow Road to the band hall in Storie Street.  About 1961 Brian also won the Paisley Battalion junior piping contest at the BB Headquarters in Oakshaw, Paisley.  Around this time he was also playing with the 2175 Rolls Royce Squadron of the Air Training Corps and the band played in the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall in 1962. The Pipe Major of the ATC band, John Traquair, also ran the Grade 2 Paisley RBL Pipe Band which later became Paisley Pipe Band under Eric Shields, Bob Black and Eddie McAteer.  This band graduated into the Chivas 100 Pipers under Eddie McAteer and then Donnie Thomson (ex 1st Port Glasgow BB).

Brian Lynch then became an apprentice with Babcock and Wilcox in Renfrew, another hot bed of local piping and drumming, where he worked alongside fellow apprentice Gregor McLeod, a Piper with Renfrew Pipe Band and ultimately Glasgow Police Pipe Band.  Pipe Major Peter Bain, ex Scots Guards, also worked at Babcock and Wilcox and ran evening classes near Cessnock in Glasgow in the early 1960s where he endeavoured to teach the youngsters the basics of piobaireachd.  Eddie McAteer worked the model maker at Babcock and Wilcox and the Pipe Major of the Renfrew Band worked in the pattern shop. Archie Russell (Ex Red Hackle Drum Corps) also worked in the machine shop as a rate-fixer.

After attending the BB King George Leadership course at Carronvale in Falkirk around 1965-66, Brian had one more go with the BB band and this time managed to get a mini band to play at one of the displays in 1967-68.  Brian was the Pipe Major along with Jim Blair, one of his friends from the Paisley Pipe Band, Davy McGhee and a young Eric Hutchinson who was the last real "learner" in the BB band.  The BB company had a piping trophy - the "Hugh McKean Memorial Pipes" - left over from when it had been a full size band in its prime.  The McKean family had donated these bagpipes as the prize for an annual Solo Piping competition, in memory of their son (an ex 23rd Piper) who had carried his pipes in the War, but sadly was lost at sea in 1943 while on active service..  The bagpipes were awarded each year to the best/most promising Piper, and they had a ferrule on the base drone engraved "Hugh McKean Memorial Pipes-France, Belgium and North Africa". Eric Hutchison was the last Piper to play these pipes.

Brian then played with the Paisley Pipe Band until he joined the Merchant Navy in 1968.  He played on a few occasions when home on leave but it was difficult to maintain the level of playing required so his pipes "went under the bed" for a time. His last BB camp was with the 23rd Paisley BB in Portrush in 1968, where he played for the Church parade on his own. At sea he was mostly in hot climates which the natural materials of the pipes disliked, so his pipes rarely went with him. He did, however, play on the "monkey island" on the ship’s bridge as it steamed up the Bonny River in Nigeria.  Piping links also existed throughout the Shell fleet as Brian sailed with the brother of Pipe Major Bob Crabb of the Scots Guards, and once sailed with (and had a few tunes with) a deck officer and drummer who was an ex-member of the Ballycoan Pipe Band from Northern Ireland.

Brian married in 1973 and his wife knew nothing about his piping skills until she found the pipes “under the bed”. He played occasionally after that and in fact playing the chanter after crushing his left hand in an accident in Japan in the early 1980s was part of his rehabilitation after surgery.  He left the Merchant Navy in 1985 and joined BP in Aberdeen.  On posting to Shetland he played with the Lerwick Pipe Band, sometimes in extreme weather conditions when playing at the main fire festival held in January. During the period 1986-89 many good players passed through the Lerwick band, including Archie McArthur (ex-Red Hackle and an ex-Glasgow BB Piper), Gussie Angus (ex-Lochore, British Hydrocarbon Chemicals, and Muirheads – and also ex-Lerwick BB), Kenny Watson (still Pipe Major of Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band in Inverness), Dougie Watson (ex-Scots Guards) and many others. A major problem was that the players were never all there at the same time due to work cycles.

Round about the same time Brian started to teach both his daughters to play, and his elder daughter, Dawn, has the distinction of acquiring her Brownie’s music badge by playing "The Green Hills" on the chanter, assessed by Gussie Angus.  The band also visited Lerwick’s twin town of Moloy for their Moloydagen celebrations. Brian and his two daughters also attended the first of the RSPBA Summer Schools in Washington Street, Glasgow, where they were introduced to broader musical and intonation perspectives. Brian was subsequently invited back to the Summer School as an instructor and he did a few summers there with beginners from all over the world.

On being transferred by BP to Aberdeen, Brian played with the Kintore Pipe Band under Pipe Major Jim Coutts. From his experience of working as an offshore installation manager, Brian has a signed photograph from the then Prime Minister of Vietnam (Mr. Vo Van Kiet) showing them shaking hands after he had piped him off his helicopter onto the platform. Later he visited Vietnam on business and much to the entertainment of some Canadians in the line behind him, had to play a tune on his chanter to the Customs officers at Saigon/Ho Chi Min City to convince them to be let into the country.

Brian then joined the Grade 2 Bucksburn and District Pipe Band under Pipe Major Jim MacDonald.  He played for two seasons but a combination of work shift rotations, the old hand injury and other factors caused him to step down. In the interim he helped with the Novice Juvenile band on an ad-hoc basis and, with the support of Pipe Major Ian Dallas, they took over rebuilding the Novice Juvenile band as a new generation of learners became involved.  The first time out his 7 year old daughter, Hazel, was one of the Pipers. Following hard work with the youngsters they were rewarded in the early 1990s by winning the Novice Juvenile British, European and Cowal Championships as well as Champion of Champions, with 3rd place in the Scottish Championships and 2nd place at the World Championships.  The band also played at concerts, castle, picnics, dinners and fund raising around the pubs at New Year, and also down Union Street in Aberdeen in support of Lieutenant General Sir Peter Graham’s campaign to "Save the Gordons"

Brian then moved to an Australian Company (BHP) and commuted for a period between Aberdeen and London, which restricted his piping. He was determined to keep his hand in and he practiced in the evenings in the Board Room when everyone had gone home, played at the combined Burns Supper/Australia Day celebrations and attended practices of the City of London and Pride of Murray Pipe Bands.  He also played at the post launch dinner in Ackergill Tower, near Wick in Caithness, after BHP launched the pipeline bundle for the development of the Keith Oilfield. After that he moved to the Hess Corporation based in various locations around the world and his public playing was confined primarily to a charity supporting 'pipeathon" in Union Street, Aberdeen. 
Brian retired from working life in 2007 and moved to Nairn but still plays at the odd function. He has not yet ruled out the possibility of joining another Pipe Bands for one final challenge. He doubts, however, that any of this extensive journey in piping would have happened but for his father’s chance encounter with the 23rd Paisley Boy’s Brigade Pipe band and the patience of his early instructors in the BB family.

Prepared by the RSPBA Historical Research Group based on notes provided by Brian Lynch.