2. Alexander Russell, 3. Finlay MacNeill, 4. Dugald MacNeill, 5. Calum Carmichael. In March 1953
Sandy left Scotland for Canada. By this time he was not only a prize-winning piper but was also a promising heavy athlete, being 6ft 2in and 15 stones at the age of 16. Sandy’s mother, Mrs Russell was a member of the College parents’ committee and she and Sandy’s grandmother Mrs Keith were active fund raisers and helpers with the various social functions. It was reported that they would all be greatly missed. After the move to Hamilton,
Sandy far right standing at the 1951 St Andrew’s Day Ball
Ontario, Sandy, now Sandy Keith, worked in the steel industry and continued his piping under the guidance of Archie Cairns before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. He had great success as pipe- major of the Erskine Pipe Band, progressing from Grade Three to being a Grade One contender. Several well known pipers played in the Erskine band during this time, including the late Scott MacAulay, John Recknagel and Ian Whitelaw. Sandy took an active interest in Scott’s time at the College of Piping on Prince Edward Island and was a frequent visitor and mentor during the early years of the PEI College. In 1982 Sandy took over the
piping and drumming programme in Dunedin, Florida, teaching hundreds
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of pupils over the years. As Piping Director, he built up three bands, one of which went on to successes in Grade 2 in both America and Scotland. He was President of the Southern United States Pipe Band Association for many years, working to establish that organisation’s adjudication panel and accreditation system and judged in the United States and Ontario until recently. He was the organiser of the
Dunedin Highland Games, an annual event that attracted most of the bands and soloists in the area. On his trips to Scotland he would
always make time to visit the College of Piping and when over with the Dunedin band for the Worlds they would play in Callander Square on a Wednesday evening prior to the Championships, alongside the Callander band under the leadership of another former College pupilTom Dingwall. Sandy died on 1st February 2012