Senior ceol mor adjudicator Norman Matheson, Milltimber, Aberdeen, recently celebrated his 80th birthday. Norman has made a significant contribution to piping over many years. He has spent more than 40 years on the judge’s bench. He was instrumental in creating the ground- breaking ‘Masters of Piobaireachd’ series of CDs now referenced by pipers throughout the world.As a leading amateur piper he won all of the major prizes open to him. In his professional life Norman was a highly respected surgeon. He is an expert on rhododendrons and his spectacular garden has featured on BBC television. He was awarded an MBE for overseeing the installation of many fine artworks in hospitals in the north east of Scotland. More than all of that though, he possesses a sense of humour (a rare beast in some quarters of the bagpipe jungle) and we hope he will appreciate this short ditty in his honour:
Norman relaxes in his wonderful garden
1. Norman, Norman, he wisna blate 1.Tae gie them piobaireachd by the crate 1.When in theatre in his goonie braw 1. He sliced awa’, hio tra tra
2. Norman, Norman, never fickle 2. In chuntering oan ’boot Broon an’ Nicol 2. He winna stoap (worse wi’ a dram) 2. Gag his gub wi’ a nicky tam!
3.An’ noo he’s eichty wid ye believe? 3. Fine figure nae doot an’ prood o’ his nieve 3. So raise a gless tae the laird o’ Milltimber 3.The cock o’ the north, an’ a day tae remember!
RWallace with apologies to R Burns PT NewsletterWatch
From the Queensland Piper’s Society . . .‘The April meeting was pleased to welcome Iain Bruce, Malcolm McRae and Roy Gunn as well as Lachlan McPhee. Glengarry’s Lament played by Malcolm McRae was the opening tune of the morning session and, after some discussion of it,he was followed by Ralph Nankervis who also played Glengarry’s Lament. Iain Bruce was next to play, his tune beingThe Lament for Alasdair MacDonnell of Glengarry. Lachlan McPhee, making his first visit to the group,was next to play, his tune beingToo Long in this Condition and was followed by Roy Gunn playingThe Lament for Captain MacDougall, after which we retired for a short break. Morning tea over the meeting resumed with Malcolm playing The MacGregor’s Salute and he was again followed by Iain Bruce playing Chisholm’s Salute.The final tune for the day was then played by Roy Gunn, it beingThe Lament for Donald of Laggan.’