Eagle flew out of the night
The resurrection of the 25-years-dormant Edinburgh-based Eagle Pipers’ Society came to reality when a large gathering met at the Scots Guards Club in the Scottish capital city’s west end for “a great night of piping and very tasty Scotch pies.”
Two important members of the original Eagle Pipers’ Society, Tom Speirs and Jimmie MacGregor, received honouraray life memberships to the organization.
“It was an honour to welcome Jimmie McGregor and Tom Speirs, both stalwarts of the Society back in the 1970s,” said Colin MacLellan, current president of the society. “It was also great to see so many other well known faces become members of the new Society.”
The proceedings started promptly at 7:30 pm with Honourary Pipe-Major Euan Anderson calling the meeting to order, followed by a few words from MacLellan.
Continuing the tradition of the organization, the night was about camaraderie and music, and two younger members, Edward Seaman and Billy Stewart, were first to perform. Also playing on the night were more well known pipers Roddy Weir, Douglas Gardiner, Donald MacLeod and Dr. Bill Fraser, who made the trip from Aberdeen.
2009 Northern Meeting Gold Medallist Glenn Brown of Glasgow concluded the solo piping portion of the night with a stellar rendition of “Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon.”
Before the night ended there was a “massed band” led by Anderson that played a few tunes and then gathered for a group photo to mark the occasion.
The next Eagle Pipers’ Society meeting is scheduled for February 2nd.
Thanks to all who came and made it an occasion to remember. Hope to see you on the 2nd of February, same time, same place. To our overseas members who weren’t able to make it this time, your ties are on their way. Iain Speirs Secretary / Treasurer The Eagle Pipers’ Society
This seems like a great society to belong to. I wish we had a similar society here in Toronto, It seems to me that everything revolves around pipe bands here now and less on Solo’s. We should start something like this up. I wonder how many people would join here in the GTA.
Tripper, START a society there in Toronto. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Find a place where you can gather once a month, invite your piping friends, get together and PLAY. We were running Arkansas Piobaireachd society meetings regularly here for quite a while. We would just meet and talk about Piobaireachd, and play whatever tunes we were workig on. Sometimes people would tape the music up to the wall, or play just the Ground of a new tune or whatever. It wasn’t competition, or formal performance, just people getting together to share an interest. Go for it. And congratulations Iain, for getting the Eagles going again. From the article Andrew ran the other day, it sounded like you all had a splendid evening, and more to come. I hope we get to visit next time we’re across.
I like the brown shoes. I wonder if style guy” will have any comments. “