The Piping Encyclopaedia
A FREE PIPING RESOURCE FOR THE GLOBAL PIPING COMMUNITY
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CAIRD, David (1933-1987)
Pipe Major of the Royal Highland Fusiliers 1968-1973, originally serving in the HLI.
He then served as Queens Piper until 1980 after which he was pipe major at RAF Halton.
He died from a brain tumor in 1980.
CALDER, Alexander
Pipe Major of the Seaforth Highlanders from 1865 until 1878.
In 1866 he took second prize in the Strathspeys & Marches at the Northern Meeting.
CALDER, Allan MacLeod
From Edinburgh where he was a pupil of Roddie Campbell.
Won the Gold Medals at Oban in 1923 and Inverness in 1924 but stopped competing soon afterwards because of ill health.
He also won the March and Strathspey & Reel events at Oban in 1923.
CAMERON, Alexander
Piper in the 79th Highlanders in 1793.
CAMERON, Alexander
Pipe major of Gordon Highlanders.
CAMERON, Alexander (-1817)
Pipe Major of the 92nd Highlanders from 1805 until 1817 (he died in Belfast on 18 October).
CAMERON, Alexander (Sandy) (1821-1870)
Taught by his elder brother Donald, the greatest piper of his era.
A left handed piper, he served as a piper in the 71st Highlanders and was known as one of the top players of his day, winning first the Prize Pipe in 1846 and the Champions’ Gold Medal in 1862.
At other times he also served as piper to Malcolm of Poltalloch, piper to Lord Seafield, was a hotel keeper in Greenock and then was Pipe Major of the Greenock Volunteers.
Composed ‘Lochiel’s Welcome to Glasgow’ and the 6/8 March ‘Captain Colin Campbell’.
He taught his son Keith as well as Roddie Campbell, Charles S Thomason and Jon Ewen.
CAMERON, Alexander (Alick) (1848-1923)
The second of Donald Cameron’s three piping sons, he was taught by his father and uncle Sandy.
Although he rarely competed he nevertheless won the Prize Pipe in 1867, the same year that his father won the Great Champions’ Gold Medal.
Later he broke the two lower fingers of his right hand when two dogs he was controlling chased a rabbit and pulled the leash around his hand.
Because of the injury he had to adapt his technique in order to play.
Despite the injury he also added the Gold Medal to his honours in 1870, playing ‘My King Has Landed in Moidart’.
Undoubtedly a brilliant player he became known as a great teacher also and two of his best known pupils were John MacDougall Gillies and John MacDonald (Inverness).
A great tribute was paid to him when GS McLennan composed ‘Alick Cameron, Champion Piper’ in his honour.
Like many of the pipers of his century he was also a fine Highland dancer and gave lessons in that art too.
He was also piper to the Marquis of Huntly.
CAMERON, Alex
Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion Cameronians from 1914 until 1915. Killed in action at Laventie on February 4, 1915.
CAMERON, Allan
Born in 1731, died at Dunbar 1833.
Described in Baptie as “one of the most famous pipers of his day.”
CAMERON, Angus (1776-?)
Born in Lochaber and became piper to Donald Cameron of Lochiel.
In 1794 he won the Prize Pipe at Edinburgh having been placed second the previous year.
Although regarded by many as one of the foremost pipers of his era he retired from competitive piping early “on the advice of his wife” and, presumably with her approval, became the inn keeper on the north side of the Ballachulish Ferry.
CAMERON, Angus
From Rannoch
Competed in the Edinburgh Prize Pipe contest in 1786 when he was described as a ‘boy’.
Possibly the same person as below.
CAMERON, Angus
From Rannoch
Unplaced at Edinburgh in 1824, 1826, 1829, 1832, 1835 and 1844.
In 1832 he was listed as Piper to the St Ronans Border Club.
Winner of 1841 Glasgow Piobaireachd competition.
CAMERON, Charles
Pipe Major of the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders from 1922 until 1928 when he transferred as Pipe Major to the 3rd Battalion.
Had previously served as Pipe Major of the 10/11th HLI during World War 1.
CAMERON, Colin (1853-1916)
The eldest of Donald Cameron’s three piping sons.
He followed his father into service as a piper and when he won the Prize Pipe in 1861 he was piper to Stewart MacKenzie of Brahan Castle.
By the time he won the Gold Medal in 1865 he was piper to Malcolm of Glenmorag and then later served the Earl of Fife in the same capacity.
Gave tuition to John MacDougall Gillies (ref Baptie).
CAMERON, Donald (1811-1868)
The great piper of his generation.
Born in Maryburgh, near Dingwall, as a teenager he became piper to the Laird of Scallisaig in Glenelg.
Later he got his first serious tuition from John Ban MacKenzie and then from Angus MacKay.
In 1841 he won a Piobaireachd competition at Glasgow’s Royal Playhouse and in so doing beat Angus MacKay and followed that up in 1843 by winning the Prize Pipe at Inverness.
Then in 1844 he won the last ever Prize Pipe at Edinburgh when as piper to MacKenzie of Scatwell (later Lord Seaforth) he played ‘Seaforth’s Salute’.
In 1849 he won the first ever former winners Gold Medal at Inverness and at that same competition his other tutor, John Ban MacKenzie, won the Prize Pipe.
There is no doubt that well before then he had truly eclipsed both of his major tutors as pipers, the 1849 result only confirming that.
He won the Champions’ Gold Medal at Inverness in 1850 and then again in 1859 (when his drones slipped from his shoulder into the crook of his arm) and then again in 1867 without any mishap.
In turn he taught his brother Sandy, some 24 years younger than himself, as well as his own sons Colin, Alick and Keith as well as many who were regarded as the finest pipers of their era including Colin Thomson, Donald MacKay (London), Alex McLennan and Sandy MacDonald, the father of John MacDonald, Inverness.
Composed ‘Donald Cameron’s Farewell to Rosehaugh’, ‘Brahan Castle’ and ‘The Kessock Ferry’.
He died at Inverness on 7 January, 1868.
CAMERON, Donald
Pipe Major of the 14th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders during World War 1.
CAMERON, Donald
Awarded DCM while serving as a piper with the Black Watch.
Later joined South African Scottish as pipe major and served with them during World War 1.
CAMERON, Duncan
From Islay and later of Edinburgh where he became Pipe Major of the Police Pipe Band.
Prominent prize winner of the 1930s and a pupil of Roddie Campbell.
His brother Iain (see) also achieved note as a piper and composer.
CAMERON, Evan
In 1838 he competed at Edinburgh as ‘Piper, 78th Regiment’ but was unplaced.
His tune was ‘Sir Hector MacKenzie of Gairloch’s Lament.’
CAMERON, Iain C –1990
From Islay.
Later lived in Liverpool and then Edinburgh where his home at Crammond Bridge became famous amongst pipers.
During the war years he served as a captain in the 8th Argylls.
His brother was the more famous Duncan Cameron (see), pipe major of the Edinburgh City Police.
Also won some prizes around the competition circuit and composed several notable tunes including ‘Rhoda MacPhee’s Fancy’, ‘Mary MacRae of Cluain’, ‘Strathalmond’.
CAMERON, John
From Rannoch.
In 1786 he competed at Edinburgh.
CAMERON, John
Listed as ‘a boy, Piper to John MacDonald of Lochgarry’ when he competed at Edinburgh in 1790.
CAMERON, John
From Glasgow. Competed at the Edinburgh Exhibition in the 1830s.
CAMERON, John
From Glasgow.
Was a piper with the 5th Lanarkshire Militia.
Competed at Edinburgh in 1821 (4th), and 1823, 1824 and 1826 (all unplaced).
CAMERON, John
Major prizes:
Northern Meeting
Strathspey & March 1878 (as piper to Mr Davidson of Tulloch)
Prize Pipe 1879 3rd (as piper to Mr Allan R MacKenzie, yr of Kintail)
CAMERON, John (1854-1908)
Born in Cromdale.
Taught by Donald MacKay, piper to the Prince of Wales and also by Sandy Cameron.
From 1874 until 1877 he served Colonel Gardyne of Glenforsa as piper and then entered the service of the Marquis of Lorne in the same capacity.
However in that same year he enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry as a piper.
While with the HLI he fought at the Battle of Tel-El-Kebir which he commemorated with one of the greatest 6/8 Marches ever written, ‘The Highland Brigade at Tel-El-Kebir’, a tune which has a strong Piobaireachd base to it.
Not surprisingly, he was a top notch Piobaireachd played and won the Gold Medal at Inverness in 1892 (he had been second in the Piobaireachd there the year before), the Clasp there in 1899 and the Gold Medal at Oban in 1885.
In 1891 he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders as Pipe Major.
He died from a brain tumor in 1980.
CALDER, Alexander
Pipe Major of the Seaforth Highlanders from 1865 until 1878.
In 1866 he took second prize in the Strathspeys & Marches at the Northern Meeting.
CALDER, Allan MacLeod
From Edinburgh where he was a pupil of Roddie Campbell.
Won the Gold Medals at Oban in 1923 and Inverness in 1924 but stopped competing soon afterwards because of ill health.
He also won the March and Strathspey & Reel events at Oban in 1923.
CAMERON, Alexander
Piper in the 79th Highlanders in 1793.
CAMERON, Alexander
Pipe major of Gordon Highlanders.
CAMERON, Alexander (-
CAMERON, Alexander (Sandy) (1821-
A left handed piper, he served as a piper in the 71st Highlanders and was known as one of the top players of his day, winning first the Prize Pipe in 1846 and the Champions’ Gold Medal in 1862.
At other times he also served as piper to Malcolm of Poltalloch, piper to Lord Seafield, was a hotel keeper in Greenock and then was Pipe Major of the Greenock Volunteers.
Composed ‘Lochiel’s Welcome to Glasgow’ and the 6/8 March ‘Captain Colin Campbell’.
He taught his son Keith as well as Roddie Campbell, Charles S Thomason and Jon Ewen.
CAMERON, Alexander (Alick) (1848-
Although he rarely competed he nevertheless won the Prize Pipe in 1867, the same year that his father won the Great Champions’ Gold Medal.
Later he broke the two lower fingers of his right hand when two dogs he was controlling chased a rabbit and pulled the leash around his hand.
Because of the injury he had to adapt his technique in order to play.
Despite the injury he also added the Gold Medal to his honours in 1870, playing ‘My King Has Landed in Moidart’.
Undoubtedly a brilliant player he became known as a great teacher also and two of his best known pupils were John MacDougall Gillies and John MacDonald (Inverness).
A great tribute was paid to him when GS McLennan composed ‘Alick Cameron, Champion Piper’ in his honour.
Like many of the pipers of his century he was also a fine Highland dancer and gave lessons in that art too.
He was also piper to the Marquis of Huntly.
CAMERON, Alex
Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion Cameronians from 1914 until 1915. Killed in action at Laventie on February 4, 1915.
CAMERON, Allan
Born in 1731, died at Dunbar 1833.
Described in Baptie as “one of the most famous pipers of his day.”
CAMERON, Angus (1776-
In 1794 he won the Prize Pipe at Edinburgh having been placed second the previous year.
Although regarded by many as one of the foremost pipers of his era he retired from competitive piping early “on the advice of his wife” and, presumably with her approval, became the inn keeper on the north side of the Ballachulish Ferry.
CAMERON, Angus
From Rannoch
Competed in the Edinburgh Prize Pipe contest in 1786 when he was described as a ‘boy’.
Possibly the same person as below.
CAMERON, Angus
From Rannoch
Unplaced at Edinburgh in 1824, 1826, 1829, 1832, 1835 and 1844.
In 1832 he was listed as Piper to the St Ronans Border Club.
Winner of 1841 Glasgow Piobaireachd competition.
CAMERON, Charles
Pipe Major of the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders from 1922 until 1928 when he transferred as Pipe Major to the 3rd Battalion.
Had previously served as Pipe Major of the 10/11th HLI during World War 1.
CAMERON, Colin (1853-
He followed his father into service as a piper and when he won the Prize Pipe in 1861 he was piper to Stewart MacKenzie of Brahan Castle.
By the time he won the Gold Medal in 1865 he was piper to Malcolm of Glenmorag and then later served the Earl of Fife in the same capacity.
Gave tuition to John MacDougall Gillies (ref Baptie).
CAMERON, Donald (1811-
Born in Maryburgh, near Dingwall, as a teenager he became piper to the Laird of Scallisaig in Glenelg.
Later he got his first serious tuition from John Ban MacKenzie and then from Angus MacKay.
In 1841 he won a Piobaireachd competition at Glasgow’s Royal Playhouse and in so doing beat Angus MacKay and followed that up in 1843 by winning the Prize Pipe at Inverness.
Then in 1844 he won the last ever Prize Pipe at Edinburgh when as piper to MacKenzie of Scatwell (later Lord Seaforth) he played ‘Seaforth’s Salute’.
In 1849 he won the first ever former winners Gold Medal at Inverness and at that same competition his other tutor, John Ban MacKenzie, won the Prize Pipe.
There is no doubt that well before then he had truly eclipsed both of his major tutors as pipers, the 1849 result only confirming that.
He won the Champions’ Gold Medal at Inverness in 1850 and then again in 1859 (when his drones slipped from his shoulder into the crook of his arm) and then again in 1867 without any mishap.
In turn he taught his brother Sandy, some 24 years younger than himself, as well as his own sons Colin, Alick and Keith as well as many who were regarded as the finest pipers of their era including Colin Thomson, Donald MacKay (London), Alex McLennan and Sandy MacDonald, the father of John MacDonald, Inverness.
Composed ‘Donald Cameron’s Farewell to Rosehaugh’, ‘Brahan Castle’ and ‘The Kessock Ferry’.
He died at Inverness on 7 January, 1868.
CAMERON, Donald
Pipe Major of the 14th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders during World War 1.
CAMERON, Donald
Awarded DCM while serving as a piper with the Black Watch.
Later joined South African Scottish as pipe major and served with them during World War 1.
CAMERON, Duncan
From Islay and later of Edinburgh where he became Pipe Major of the Police Pipe Band.
Prominent prize winner of the 1930s and a pupil of Roddie Campbell.
His brother Iain (see) also achieved note as a piper and composer.
CAMERON, Evan
In 1838 he competed at Edinburgh as ‘Piper, 78th Regiment’ but was unplaced.
His tune was ‘Sir Hector MacKenzie of Gairloch’s Lament.’
CAMERON, Iain C –1990
From Islay.
Later lived in Liverpool and then Edinburgh where his home at Crammond Bridge became famous amongst pipers.
During the war years he served as a captain in the 8th Argylls.
His brother was the more famous Duncan Cameron (see), pipe major of the Edinburgh City Police.
Also won some prizes around the competition circuit and composed several notable tunes including ‘Rhoda MacPhee’s Fancy’, ‘Mary MacRae of Cluain’, ‘Strathalmond’.
CAMERON, John
From Rannoch.
In 1786 he competed at Edinburgh.
CAMERON, John
Listed as ‘a boy, Piper to John MacDonald of Lochgarry’ when he competed at Edinburgh in 1790.
CAMERON, John
From Glasgow. Competed at the Edinburgh Exhibition in the 1830s.
CAMERON, John
From Glasgow.
Was a piper with the 5th Lanarkshire Militia.
Competed at Edinburgh in 1821 (4th), and 1823, 1824 and 1826 (all unplaced).
CAMERON, John
Major prizes:
Northern Meeting
Strathspey & March 1878 (as piper to Mr Davidson of Tulloch)
Prize Pipe 1879 3rd (as piper to Mr Allan R MacKenzie, yr of Kintail)
CAMERON, John (1854-
Taught by Donald MacKay, piper to the Prince of Wales and also by Sandy Cameron.
From 1874 until 1877 he served Colonel Gardyne of Glenforsa as piper and then entered the service of the Marquis of Lorne in the same capacity.
However in that same year he enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry as a piper.
While with the HLI he fought at the Battle of Tel-
In 1891 he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders as Pipe Major.
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