Another sad day for the Captain's Corner and all its friends.... around noon today, Jackie Fair, long time bass drummer for the Clan MacFarlane Pipe Band succumbed to an extended bout with cancer. We lost one of our greatest band members. With his wife Helen and 4 kids, Eleanor (wife of Gary Moore), Stephen, David and Jimmy, they were our initial family unit within the band. Social life centred around their home in west St. Catharines and even after retiring, Jackie was the keenest of supporters for the band and its members.

He immigrated from the Newmains/Wishaw area of Lanarkshire in 1953, fresh off winning the 1952 World's Pipe Band Championship with the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band. As part of the John Kirkwood drum section, he settled in St. Catharines and played with the St. Catharines Pipe Band for 4 years, after which Jackie, along with John Kirkwood, established the Clan MacFarlane Pipe Band. Being a founding member, he never lost that special place in his heart for what the band was doing. Of course when piper Gary Moore (Peel Regional Police PB) married daughter Eleanor, Jackie  once again had even closer ties to the pipe band world.

Jackie Fair was one person that could always be counted on for a sense of priority and knowing the correct way to represent the band. He was our spokesman, and when nobody else could find the right words, Jackie always came through. He saw us through lean times as well as good times and for that alone, his friendship will never be forgotten.

Helen, sister Etta, Eleanor and Gary, Stephen, David, Jimmy and your families, your husband, brother and dad was a special person. We are all richer for having known him. We are all thinking of you at this time. God Bless.

November 10, 2008

Let the Indoor Season Begin

THE 13TH ANNUAL

GEORGE SHERRIFF MEMORIAL INVITATIONAL COMPETITION

Saturday, November 15, 2008
St. Paul's Presbyterian Church
70 James St. S., Hamilton, Ontario
www.stpaulshamilton.ca/

Competitors

Johnny Bassett (PPBSO), Bobby Durning (EUSPBA), Richard Gillies (BCPA), Thomas Harrington (ACPBA), Erik Leiken (WUSPBA), John Lee (BCPA), Jon Maffett (MWPBA),
Anthony Masterson (Texas), Elizabeth Sheridan (PPBSO), Craig Sutherland (Scottish Junior Championship), Andrew Tice (EUSPBA), Jonathan Verrett (PPBSO)

Events

6/8 Marches:  10:00 a.m. til noon
Piobaireachd:  1:00 p.m. til 5:00 p.m.
March, Strathspey & Reel:  7:30 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
Admission:  $10 ($5 for students)

Adjudicators

Willie McCallum
James McGillivray
John Wilson

Master of Ceremonies

Geoff Neigh

November 5, 2008

Another Good Friend

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of a long time friend, Isabella Davidson. Born in Scotland, Isabel emigrated to North America in 1956, where she met her husband of 43 years, George Davidson.  George was one time piper in the '60's with the Caber Feidh, City of Toronto Pipe Band and later moved to Niagara Falls to play in the Clan MacFarlane Pipe Band. It was here that we became great friends with Isabel - from the many BBQ's at their trailer park home just off the QEW to the great road trips on the bus with the band. Isabel was always front and centre with her quick quips, super smile and a wee story (mostly humorous) on the side. In the words of her family, she was a proud Canadian who always faced life head on! There is no better way of praising Isabel. We extend our condolences to husband George, sons Roddy, Craig and their children.

November 2, 2008

My Achin' Ears

Have you had your hearing tested lately? What's that you say? Research has shown that permanent hearing loss may develop with prolonged exposure to any sound over 90 dB and given that the average pipe intensity is in excess of 100dB, it is no wonder that many an experienced piper will develop symptoms of hearing loss as they age. This isn't the selective hearing loss we are all accused of around the home, but an acute insensitivity to all frequencies, especially the spoken word that lacks volume.

I was reminded about this recently when I was surfing the web for hearing protection devices. I had grown intolerant of over the counter foam plugs because they distorted the sound for me. The graph here shows that for high frequencies, foam ear plugs will reduce the sound level by as much as 30 dB. This distortion was unacceptable to me so I haven't used them for years. What I was looking for was a reduction that was more uniform across the range of hearing and the ETY Plugs measured up to the task, with a minimum of 15 dB and a maximum of 25dB reduction over the complete frequency spectrum.

The design is simple. ETY•Plugs use a patented tuned resonator and acoustic resistor that replicate the natural response of the open ear so that sound heard with these earplugs is as clear as the original, just quieter.

And who uses these plugs? Listed are aircraft workers, construction workers, motor sports crews, coaches of athletic teams, factory workers and of course musicians. In fact, they promote our usage with a picture of a piper on the promo website. I was first made aware of these plugs by a student of mine, and since that time have recommended them to many others. Definitely worth a listen , I mean look.

October 24, 2008

Longevity and Old Friends

I received an email this morning from Graeme Williamson and it immediately brought back the importance of blogs, archives and communication in general. For you see, back on March 2, 2007 I received an email from my good friend Willie McErlean from Vancouver mentioning the music of Charlie Williamson and here is Graeme's note:

My dad is still alive and kicking at 84 on the 23rd of November. He will be pleased as punch that you like his tunes, especially Granny Macleod. What a great piper he was and a fantastic writer of pipe music. Did you know his dad used to make pipes too?

For those that missed the original correspondence, here it is:

Charlie MacLeod Williamson

Just received another glimpse of history from Willie McErlean - heh Willie ! You are working overtime! 

Hi Ken. I wonder if the general piping public know about a very good piper by the name of Charlie MacLeod Williamson. I believe he is from Edinburgh and still lives there. He has a few tunes in the old Edcath book, Granny MacLeod is one. He is better known for his jig compositions. The Groatie, Buckie Mannie, Myra Hutton, Eileen MacDonald, Nameless, Jimmy Yardley. I was just speaking to Jimmy. He lives in Santa Rosa, California. Both he and Charlie Williamson were in the Scottish Division during the 2nd World War. Jimmy was in the Black Watch and Charlie was in the Seaforth's under wee Donald. Both ended up playing in the I.T.C. Pipe Band under big Donald MacLean. Jimmy after the war was Pipe Major of Kelty & Blairadam and also Pipe Major of Glencraig, both Fife bands. Jimmy was better known to Canadians with his piping in the great Powell River band in 1958. A nice tribute to both men who were outstanding players in their time. Hope the readers will enjoy this bit of piping history. 

 Awrabest..... William J. McErlean

Thanks Willie - you caught my fancy with this and I went back to have a look in my library. I remember Charlie Williamson's music. We played a lot of it. In fact, the publisher of the Edcath books was my teacher's brother, Hugh MacPherson...hence my connection to this story and to Willie Sinclair and to Willie Bryson, all noted personalities of the time (of course in my youth, hahaha). So I dug into the music and here is a glimpse...not only Granny MacLeod, the jig, but a 6/8 entitled "Pipe Major Donald MacLean of Lewis" - definitely not the Donald MacLeod composition that most bands are familiar with today. My thanks Willie...and as they say in Ontario... Awrabest !

Click to Enlarge

October 20, 2008

Hello from Germany...

Just got a letter in from my good friend Sean McCartney with pics from his tour of duty in Germany ... Now I had better rephrase that. His wife Annie is a military dentist stationed in Germany and that is the tour of duty. What I have seen from the retired gentleman Sean lately has been piping, travelling and enjoying the great landscape with Annie at his side... an idyllic life and the Captain is jealous. From all accounts, the piping scene is thriving in Germany - the McCartney's are well entrenched in band life and enjoying all that this great country has to offer. Click on the following pics to enlarge and see the views from Garmisch. As Sean writes, it only costs 45 € for a trip to the top and these breathtaking views.

October 13, 2008

Lots to be Thankful for....

Its Thanksgiving here in Ontario and  I am just sitting back amid the doom and gloom of the global economy and doing a little stock taking - not financial, but rather life in general. My good friend Duncan Bell called from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange this morning just to say hi and make sure we were all well...now that is a thing that friends should do more often. I realized that indeed it really is Thanksgiving. The Admiral and I went to Barrie on Saturday to deliver furniture to our son Cam who just moved into a new apartment...we are thankful for that opportunity - our health is in tip top shape - the bottom line says we have a roof over our head and food in the fridge - we are bringin' in the wood for the winter's heat this afternoon... so, yes, it truly is Thanksgiving. I walked the dog yesterday and took the following pics of the fall colors on our back 40 . Magnificent to say the least.....

Murphy - my sister in law's  Bernese Mountain Dog

View at the Captain's Corner

September 17, 2008

Old News - But Still News

Uploading pics from the summer's travels is always fun - bringing back pleasant and not so pleasant memories of the games this year. This photo here has to be unique in the annals of pipe band yore. Everyone has their stories to tell. But can you imagine after all the prep work to lay out the pipe band circles at this year's Canmore Games (August 31), that the best way to redo them was to just have the stewards create the circles in the snow. In this way, the green grassy background would show through.  The band in the photo is the Rocky Mountain Pipe Band from Calgary, AB. Again a unique situation where Ann Gray (Dunvegan Medallist in piobaireachd) plays in the the drum section and her daughter Robyn plays pipes next to the Pipe Major in the front row. Nothing at Canmore this year was "au naturelle". (photo courtesy of Ann Gray, LLD and Robyn Gray)

September 10, 2008

Scott MacAulay

The Clan MacFarlane family and the piping world as a whole lost one of its most talented members today with the passing of Scott MacAulay on his adopted Prince Edward Island. His family hails from Carloway, on the Island of Lewis  and it is there that Scott will finally rest. His journey through life was as no other - a magnetic personality - wit and charm - impish, carefree attitude at times and above all else, a great friend. I am saddened today for three very special people  that played a major role in Scott's life - Sandy Keith, his teacher, mentor and pipe major of the Erskine Pipe Band; Don Forgan and Jack Gillies, best friend players in the Clan. And I am saddened for all his family & friends. He just didn't make your acquaintance. He swept into your life for all time!... Yes that was Scott to a T. His life was one of passion - passion for living, passion for friends, passion for music and passion for his main legacy, the College of Piping, Summerside. How about the start of the worldwide Kitchenpiping phenomenon ? Yes! In Scott's own kitchen with Neil Dickie as his sidekick. From Hamilton, Ontario to Ottawa to Summerside, PEI - he established a social and musical network that today is lamenting , yet celebrating, the life of this extraordinary young man. Yes young - only 51! The tributes are flowing into the various online sites and I invite you to visit the comments on pipesdrums.com  Have a look as well at Rob Wallace's blog at the College of Piping site in Glasgow, September 10, 2008. Andrew Berthoff has written a fine article on Scott's life for the pipesdrums readership. The CBC in Canada has a tribute well worth reading. And finally, the College of Piping & Celtic Performing Arts of Canada, Summerside had the following:

A world-renowned piper, MacAulay was remarkable for the depth of his contributions to the preservation of Celtic culture and education on Prince Edward Island and beyond. With an abiding love of music and teaching, he ignited passion in the hearts and minds of many, particularly youth, to take pride in their Celtic heritage.

In 1990, MacAulay became the founding director of The College of Piping in Summerside, and over the years worked tirelessly to bring The College to the forefront as a leading international centre for Celtic performing arts. With charm and a commanding presence, he never ceased to underscore the importance of preserving culture and heritage, and in doing so, generated tremendous community support for The College. As a teacher and mentor, MacAulay had a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of youth, who were inspired by his leadership to pursue excellence.

In addition to his teaching, administration, production and performance work, Scott was an accomplished composer. He was active in the national and international bagpiping communities, and did yeoman’s service on many provincial committees and organizations dedicated to improving our culture, education and tourism. In 2002 he was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, and in 2007 the PEI Caledonian Club honoured Scott for his contribution to Celtic culture on the Island.
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I wish to extend the condolences of the complete Clan MacFarlane family to Chris (Reg) and Kathy (Angus), nieces and nephews Courtney, Aynsley, Spencer, Harrison, Amanda and Angela. Perhaps knowing how much your brother and uncle was loved by the whole fraternity will somehow soften the heartache at this time. ....... God bless....  Ken

September 5, 2008

Been a Month - Non Stop!

Sorry for my absence this past 4 weeks... been on the road as you surmised. First Piping Live, the Shotts concert, the World's, and then to the Calgary and Canmore games in western Canada... but it is fast approaching a much slower pace and a chance to catch up on events from the last few weeks. First things first though... some great overseas results from everybody... SFU won the World Championship, Alan Bevan won the Inverness Gold Medal, Andrew Hayes was runner-up in the Oban Gold Medal, Willie McCallum won the Silver Star at Oban, Angus MacColl the same at Inverness and Colin Lee won the Inverness Silver Medal. I have just experienced some of the best piping in the world and am already planning next year's trip. For sheer piping enjoyment, Glasgow and the west of Scotland is the place to be in August. Next week, I will be home and bringing you pics and anecdotes from this year's events. The following week, will be a week of fishing heaven as my brother, 3 friends from Juneau and myself fly west from Anchorage in search of trophy sized rainbows, all caught on flies...  just pray that the bears don't get us...

But before I end, have a look at the Canmore judges, 8:30 am , August 31, 2008.... my 40th anniversary... 5 inches of snow... all having fun... John Fisher, Shaunna Hilder, the Captain and Graham Davidson.... more to come!... talk soon.... Captain.

Snow and more snow - hard to believe!