ALL OUR YESTERDAYS from p23
Piping and his system of tuition was to become part basis for the College’s Tutor 1 instruction book. For much of his life he was employed as a brush maker with the Blind Asylum. He was also a prolific and highly regarded composer and his well-known tunes include Te Detroit Highlanders, David Ross of Rosehall, Te Islay Ball, Verna Leith’s Wedding March and Gareloch, but the most notable being Donald
MacLean’s Farewell to Oban. Archie McNeill was renowned as a strict instructor who, although blind, had perfect hearing. He was also very proficient in the playing of piobaireachd. In 1917 he became Pipe Major of the 139th
Band and continued to teach the 139th
the large numbers in the band.
Drum Instructors during Archie’s time were James Broadway and then Don Turrent. When the
Glasgow Boy’s Brigade Pipe for 17 years thereaſter.
Te BB company was based at St Andrews United Free Church in Parliamentary Road, Glasgow, but attracted boys from other parts of the city. Archie’s own sons, Donald and Alex, then aged 13 and 11 respectively, joined the band when Archie assumed command, and his nephews, David and Seumas MacNeill, both joined later when they were old enough. In order to help the band, Archie took boys from the age of ten so that they could play a few tunes by the time they were old enough to join the Company. He would also have the boys come to his house for extra tuition, as time was limited on practice nights due to
other Juvenile contests including the Battalion Championships and the Glasgow contest held annually in the Winter Gardens on Glasgow Green. Te prizes at the latter event were a number of paid engagements to play in Glasgow Parks which greatly enhanced the band’s funds.
Archie MacNeill and his son Alex
World Championship contest resumed at Cowal Games aſter the First World War, the 139th Glasgow BB under Pipe Major Archie MacNeill, were World Juvenile Champions in 1919, 1920 and 1923. Te 139th
won many
24 APRIL 2014 Pipe Band Magazine Prepared by the RSPBA Historical Research Group with assistance from Hector Russell and Jeannie Campbell
Aſter the Second World War Archie worked at the Henderson Bagpipes workshop, where he tested the quality of drones and chanters. He also wrote for Te Piping Times. In his later years he continued to teach and play, and he made several trips to Canada to visit his son Alex, who by that time was a leading piper of the day and who competed successfully against the great John Wilson of Edinburgh and Toronto when he was in his prime. Archie spent his final years in Helensburgh and died in 1962.
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