John Brown’s bagpipes
Photograph of John Brown’s bagpipes in the College of Piping on Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Courtesy of Mr George Brown
John Brown emigrated to Canada and settled in Ottawa where he worked as a receptionist on Parliament Hill. He owned a set of bagpipes that were reputed to have been played at the battle of Culloden in 1746, on which he would often play ‘Health to the MacDonalds’ Return’. Back in Tiree, there was a tradition in his family that the Browns had been given their piping skills by the fairies.
He played the bagpipes for the visit to Ottawa of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and the prince shook his hand. His grandson remembers ‘he was so pleased that forever after he would only extend his left hand to lesser folk.’
John Brown died in 1889 aged ninety. The bagpipes are now on display at the College of Piping, Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Black and white photograoh of piper Archie MacEachern of Creag Mhor in Cornaigbeg.
Archie MacEachern of Creag Mhor in Cornaigbeg, with the cup he won as first prize in a piping competition at the Paisley Highlanders in 1933.
Newspaper cutting about the world pipe band championships at Oban in 1966.
Article about the 1966 world pipe band championships at Oban where the Tiree Pipe Band won the Lomond Shield.
Minidisk recording of the first part of an evening of piping held in An Talla on 12/1/2007.
The first part of an evening of piping hosted by the Tiree Feis Committee in An Talla on 12th January 2007 with guest of honour Robert Beck and featuring the Tiree Pipe Band, solo performances by many of Robert’s pupils past and present and special guest star Pipe Major Barry Donaldson, founder member of the world class Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.
Minidisk recording of the first part of an evening of piping held in An Talla on 12/1/2007.
The second part of an evening of piping hosted by the Tiree Feis Committee in An Talla on 12th January 2007 with guest of honour Robert Beck and featuring the Tiree Pipe Band, solo performances by many of Robert’s pupils past and present and special guest star Pipe Major Barry Donaldson, founder member of the world class Strathclyde Police Pipe Band.
Newsletter `An Tirisdeach`, No. 384, 20/1/2007.
Local news and events including the Feis piping evening, obituaries for Hugh Archie MacLean of Salum and teacher Stewart MacLean and updates from the Parties Committee, Tiree Maritime Trust, Tiree Rural Development and the RSPB.
Newsletter `An Tirisdeach`, No. 383, 6/1/2007.
Local news and events including the Tiree concert in Glasgow.
Colour photograph of pipers Willie MacLean and Robert Beck at a wedding in the 1960s.
Pipers Willie MacLean and Robert Beck at a wedding in the 1960s. (Awaiting further info)
Colour photograph of piper Robert Beck in 1965.
Piper Robert Beck in 1965. Robert was Tiree’s vet from 1959 to 1974.
Colour photograph of the Tiree Pipe Band in 1966.
The Tiree Pipe Band in Tobermory for the Games in 1966.
