Canntaireachd, was particularly well received. Professor Alan Armstrong travelled all the way from the United States to talk in detail about the work of the Society’s first president John Grant.This, too, was well received and appreciated by the membership. The evening dinner was more formal than usual with a tribute to HM
T
The Queen, the Society’s Patron. Member Malcolm Whyte proposed the loyal toast to Her Majesty and then President Jack Taylor played P/M Donald MacLeod’s ‘Queen Elizabeth’s Salute’.The piping ceilidh followed and the following pieces heard: Bruce Hitchings – Salute to Donald, Rory Sinclair – MacKay’s Lament (MacArthur), Bill Wotherspoon – Isabel MacKay, Jan Belak – Struan Robertson’s Salute, Tom Graham – MacDougall’s Gathering, Patrick Molard – Too Long in this Condition, Andrew Frater – Sir James MacDonald of the Isles’ Lament, Alan Forbes – Lament for MacLeod of Colbeck,Anne Lore – Lament for Red Hector of the Battles andWalter Gray – The Company’s Lament. At the AGM the following day there was news of progress with a Book 16 in the Society’s collection, the digitisation of its publications and development of its website. The Society accounts were in a healthy state and membership – thanks to internet access – was now more international than ever with new members joining each month.All office bearers were re-elected unanimously. The Piobaireachd Society Bursary for 2012 was awarded jointly to
young pipers Donald Joe Macinnes, Inverness, and Kieran MacNicol, Balquhidder, Perthshire. Both will have a week of intensive study at the College of Piping with all fees paid by the Society.
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HE Society held a successful conference in March at the Birnam Hotel, Birnam, Perthshire.A series of interesting papers was given. One, by Breton piper Patrick Molard on the Campbell