July 2003 PIPERS’ and PIPE BAND SOCIETY of ONTARIO, OTTAWA BRANCH
**** www.ppbso-ottawa.org ****
President: Graeme Ogilvie (613) 830-9160 (email: [email protected]) Vice-President: Charlie King (613) 830-7418 (email: [email protected]) Vice-President: Bruce Hewat (613) 733-0552 (email: [email protected]) Treasurer: Jack Yourt (613) 774-3622 (email: [email protected]) Secretary: Douglas Heyland (613) 821-2505 (email: [email protected])
2003 Winchester Indoor Highland Games Huge Success
The 2003 version of the Winchester Games continued the wonderful trend of “bigger and better”. A brilliant blue sky and warm temperatures obviously helped bring everyone out of their winter hibernation, as admissions far surpassed that of any previous year. Eight pipe bands filled the afternoon air with the skirl of the pipes and the sounds of the drums, with the Fraser Highlanders of Ottawa taking away the prize as best band of the day. The Piper of the Day was Keith Theobold of the Ottawa Police Services Pipe Band and the Drummer of the Day was Sean Donaldson of the Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band. Complete results and photos can be found on final two pages of this newsletter. We would especially like to pass on our appreciation again to our stewards who year after year volunteer freely of their time, cheerfully and energetically managing all the day’s events. So to Archie Morrison, Don Williams, Keith Williamson and Ken Armstrong… cheers and many, many thanks!!
Glengarry Pipe Bands Adopt New Tartan
As some of you may have already seen, the Glengarry Grade 2 and Grade 4 pipe bands are sporting a new tartan this year, the Glengarry Highland Games Tartan (for those of you receiving this newsletter in b&w, a colour version is available on our Ottawa Branch web-site). The ancient MacDonell tartan will still be worn by the Grade 5 band members.
The Games tartan was a special millennium project which was an undertaking of three of the Games’ Directors, Connie Blaney, Margaret Arkinstall and Margery Stewart. The tartan consists of the colours black, blue, white, red, and green; the red and blue are the predominant colours and these main colours were chosen to correspond to the colours in the Glengarry Highland Games logo. Collaboration was done with Mr. Don Smith of Heraldic Graphics in Glasgow, Scotland to create the design of the tartan. After many electronic trans-Atlantic suggestions, a final design was agreed upon.
The next step was to have a custom hand-woven sample made by a firm headed by Jean-Jacques and Paula Redslob from Newton, North Carolina. They received the thread count from Mr. Smith and proceeded to hand weave a sample of the tartan. The woven sample was then sent to the Scottish Tartan Society in Pitlochry, Scotland to be officially entered in the Register of All Publicly Known Tartans (Registered). Following this official registration on 26 November 1999, a weaving firm, Strathmore Woollen Co. Ltd in Forfar, Scotland was commissioned to do the weaving.
The initial steps of this project were begun in mid-August 1999 and completion was realized in early April 2000. It was a most interesting project and it’s good to know both that the Glengarry Highland Games now have their own officially registered tartan, know as the Glengarry Highland Games Tartan, and that it will be proudly worn by the Glengarry Grade 2 and Grade 4 Pipe Bands. July 2003 Announcements
Sons of Scotland Pipe Band Summer Events
Sunday 13 July… Guinness World Record Fling, 12:00 pm (noon), William Street Mall. All dancers are welcome to attend to help break the current record, and to help with fundraising.
Tuesday 15 July… Johnny Bagpipes @ Barrymore's Music Hall, 323 Bank Street, 8:00 pm start (see below).
Friday 18 July… Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, opening for Big Jeezus Truck.
Johnny Bagpipes
There is a show coming to our town featuring a comic by the name of Johnny Bagpipes, and the show is going to be amazing!!!
Johnny is the man who combines pipes, comedy, and rock 'n' roll. His shows are rare and unforgettable. He's been featured on CBC's Madly Off in all Directions, Just for Laughs, and three films on his craft. An entertainer in demand by corporations coast to coast, his humour is good, clean, and loud! John is an honourary member of the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, and his show is a fundraiser in the band's honour to help them travel to Scotland this summer to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships. The band will also be performing that evening. Barrymore's Music Hall (323 Bank Street) is the place, July 15th is the night, and 8 pm the doors open. Tickets are available at the Aloha Room, 233-0307, or through Ticketmaster at 755-1111. They are also available on-line through Ticketmaster. We hope you don't miss this show. Johnny's shows are hilarious and fun, and it's all for a good cause. www.sospb.com www.johnnybagpipes.com www.ticketmaster.ca
*** ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE PIPE BANDS REUNION ***
RCAF Pipe Bands Reunion If you've ever performed as a member of any the Air Force's pipe bands down through the decades, you may be interested in a reunion being organized to take place in conjunction with the Glengarry Highland Games at Maxville, Ontario on Friday and Saturday 01-02 August. The reunion is being organized by Drum Major Doug Bothwell and Bob Tracy, both "light blue" old-timers from the days of glory when Canada boasted at least a dozen pipe bands, at home and abroad, proudly wearing the RCAF Tartan. For details, contact Doug Bothwell at (613) 523-9090 or email: [email protected].
It all started 65 years ago! It would be great if there was a photograph of the first RCAF Pipe Band wearing their fuzzy, high neck melton wool tunics, breeches and puttees as they proudly led 110 Squadron on a church parade on 13 November 1938. The parade route was from Cawthra Square to St. Paul's Anglican Church in Toronto. An inauspicious beginning, but it was the start of the piping tradition that quickly took hold of the RCAF during WWII. And it blossomed after the late Group Captain Elmer Fullerton caused the RCAF Tartan to be designed, and then approved by the brass-hats of the RCAF Air Council in 1942. But the formal adoption of the Tartan really followed its acceptance by Scotland's Lord Lyon King of Arms later in the same year. Despite those important timelines, wartime shortages of fabric and dyes meant that the RCAF Tartan didn't come into general wear for RCAF pipe bands until 1943. That's why this year we mark the 60th anniversary of the World's finest Tartan! The RCAF Association had the great honour to interview Squadron Leader (retd.) H.G. "Bill" Williamson, former RCAF Provost Marshal, about his role in assisting G/C Fullerton in the design of our Tartan. In his 90s, the Squadron Leader's memory was sharp and clear, as if the events had happened only the day before. A truly fine gentleman, we were all saddened when he passed away only a few months ago. On behalf of the RCAFA, a sworn statement from Mr. Williamson was formalized for the RCAFA (and the Air Force's) archives. July 2003
Paul Hellyer; "what hath thou wrought?" With only a couple of exceptions, the RCAF Tartan remained constant in sett and colour until after integration and unification. After that time, there was no centralized RCAF control to protect the integrity of the design. So willy-nilly, various woolen mills in Scotland started taking liberties with both the design and the colours. Some of these knock-offs by Scotland's finest mills are enough to make one shudder! But really, at the time it probably didn't mean that much, as plans were progressing within DND to further disconnect from Canada's military traditions, and dress every military pipe band in the Maple Leaf plaid, developed by a design house named "Highland Queen" located on Spadina Avenue in Toronto. So much for tradition!
Archie, Arnie and a Prince (God bless 'im) come to the Rescue! But the plans were nipped in the bud when the RCAF Association conspired with Group Captain Arnie Bauer of 4 Wing and Pipe Major Archie Cairns of the CFB Ottawa Pipe Band to "upset the apple cart". When HRH Prince Philip presented Squadron Standards to four Air Force fighter squadrons at Baden, arrangements were made to reciprocate, and present him with an RCAF Tartan kilt. The Canadian Press office in Bonn, West Germany, took advantage of a slow news day back in Canada to spread the news to most Canadian daily newspapers, along with a story about saving our beautiful and traditional Tartan. This event, coupled with a lobby mounted by militia colonels united in defence of their individual tartans, prompted DND to back down. As with the 1938 pipe band that started it all in Toronto, we lack a photograph of the Women's Division pipe band at RCAF Stn Jarvis, Ont during WWII. Nor do we have photos of the RAF Pipe Band located for a time in Saint John, NB, which accepted many Canadians into their ranks.
The postwar period; and the bands flourish But happily, from the postwar period, pictures abound, even though Public Archives Canada might be hard-pressed to track them down. But if you have the magical "PL" number (usually penciled onto the flip side of the photo) they'll be able to make a print for you. You might argue with my numbers, but at various times the RCAF had upwards of a dozen pipe bands proudly wearing our unique Tartan at home and abroad. Today, it's a WAG (wild-assed guess) that there are seven or eight base or Wing bands, and four Air Force Association pipe bands, all suitably garbed! Certainly, a uniting factor through more than six decades of Air Force pipes & drums has to be the camaraderie that we all enjoyed while part of the unique group. The memories of those past years come rushing back. And just as we "own" our memories, all of us can lay claim to "owning" the RCAF Tartan. That's a fact that should never be forgotten by those who wear it today, from Pipe Major to back row piper and drummer. So here's to our tartan, of sky blue, navy blue and maroon. Wear it with pride! Per Ardua Ad Astra. Bob Tracy
RCAF Pipe Bands Reunion - 2003 Thursday 31 July through Saturday 02 August. Contact: Drum Major Doug Bothwell, 1701 Kilborn Ave, Apt 1301, Ottawa ON K1H 6M8 tel (613) 523-9090. Hotel Accommodation: the Comfort Inn East, 1252 Michael Street, Ottawa has been designated the “official” hotel. Massed Band: please inform any of the organizers, or P/M Ian Ferguson of the Air Command Pipes and Drums, if you wish to participate in the Massed Band Opening Ceremony at noon, Saturday. Registration Fee: $40 per person, to be submitted no later than 18 July (cheque made payable to DM Doug Bothwell).
Agenda: 31 July 1500 hrs, assemble in Comfort Inn hotel lobby 1600 hrs, organize POMC “convoy” and depart for Maxville Fair Grounds 1700 hrs, informal “meet and greet social” at Maxville Beer Tent 1830 hrs, buffet served 01 August morning open and/or tour of Canada Air Museum, Rockcliffe Parkway 1600 hrs, recommended arrival time at Maxville Fair Grounds proceed to reserved Tattoo Group seating 1830-1930 hrs, pre-Tattoo entertainment, 1930 hrs, Tattoo starts 02 August plan for an early arrival on Saturday, and spend a pleasant day reminiscing with RCAF friends at the world famous Glengarry Highland Games 1200 hrs, Massed Band Opening Ceremony
At the Games there will always be a hearty welcome at our Reunion Tent, co-located next the Highland Mist Pipe Band. For directions, ask when to you get to the Fair Grounds. July 2003
Winchester In-Door Games Saturday 10 May 2003
Judges: Amy Garson, Brian Williamson, Jack Coghill Jr, Steve Lanning
Bands 1st 2nd 3rd Grade 4 Pipe Band Fraser Highlanders Glengarry Gr4 Sons of Scotland Gr4 Grade 5 Pipe Band Arnprior McNab RCMP Sons of Scotland Gr5
Piping 1st 2nd 3rd Open Hornpipe/Jig Rob McKenzie Keith Theobold Will Ridley Open March Keith Theobold Will Ridley Amanda Bush Open Strathspey/Reel Keith Theobold Will Ridley Stewart James Grade 3 March Sarah Forsyth Andrew Killick John Scott Grade 3 Strathspey/Reel John Scott Craig Moffatt Christian McCartney Grade 4 March Laura McKay David Zarboni Murray Bleakney Grade 5 March Grant MacDougall Jenna Holz Clare Reeler Practice Chanter Camden Garson Kaitlan Wilson Dylan McGillivray Open Amateur Piobaireachd Matthew Yuen Dave Campbell Will Ridley Novice Piobaireachd Tracey Ford Peter Manderson Ken Jewers Age 40+ March Steve Brooke Joan Taillefer Peter Manderson
Drumming 1st 2nd 3rd Open MSR Sean Donaldson Robert MacLeod Trevor Stevens Grade 3 March Heather Wilson Daryl Fowlie Grade 4 March Devon Roberts Tom MacKenzie
Winchester 2003 Solo Awards July 2003
Open Piobaireachd Grade 3 March Open Drummer of the Day Open Piper of the Day Special Services Force Trophy Donnelly Targe John D. Wilson Memorial Trophy Cameron Highlanders Trophy Matthew Yuen Sarah Forsyth Sean Donaldson Keith Theobold
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SAM SCOTT MEMORIAL PIPE BAND
The Sam Scott Memorial Pipe Band was started almost two years ago by Pipe Major John Wright, and has come a long way in its brief history. On 06 June in Manotick's Dickinson Day parade in Manotick, the band made its premiere performance splash. The band is mostly comprised of kids in the 12, 13, 14 and 16 year old range as per stage one of the business plan. The parade band will be composed of seven or eight pipers, a bass drummer and two side drummers. For now all members of the band are wearing different kilts which is our trademark. The unifying force is the cohesion imparted by the drill and the music. As you have noticed in the last year, all of the kids playing have figured prominently in the Grade 5 and Grade 4 results in the various contests they have entered. The band is built on uncompromising excellence in musicianship and is actively sporting nine pipers at the band stage and a total organization of sixteen at various stages of development. Our band always is on the lookout for committed talented youngsters wanting to improve their skills in the 'Highland arts'. Band practices occur all year long and into the summer at the Elizabeth Street entrance of Manotick Public School on Bridge Street in Manotick. This organization owes its existence to staffers Matthew Yuen, Jack Yourt and Richard May who devote countless hours of instruction and patience creating what we have today. For further information contact Pipe Major John Wright at (613) 692-2612 or by the preferred method of e-mail [email protected].
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Glengarry Highland Games 01-02 August 2003 (www.glengarryhighlandgames.com)
Montreal Highland Games 03 August 2003 (www.montrealhighlandgames.qc.ca)
North Lanark (Almonte) Highland Games 23 August 2003 (www.almontehighlandgames.com)
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*** Bagpipes For Sale *** 1946 Hendersons… full ivory mount; 1870 Glens… silver and ivory; Contact Jack Yourt at (613) 774-3622
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