The Piping Encyclopaedia
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A-Z OF PIPERS ‘Mc’ page 1
MacAFFER, Alistair
Australian piper from Melbourne who, after a spell in Canberra, moved to Scotland in the 1970s where he became piping instructor to the Inverness District schools.
McALEER, Harry
From Ulster.
A piper in the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band before succeeding Ian MacLellan as pipe major.
Died from a heart attack.
MacALLISTER, C.E.
Served as Pipe Major of the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders from 1939 until 1945 and then the 5th Battalion as well as the 7th Battalion.
MacALISTER, John
Town piper in Campbeltown until 1777.
He was also piper to the West Fencibles and competed at Falkirk in 1782 when he won the Prize Pipe.
He was also entered to play at the Edinburgh Exhibition in 1783 when he was listed as piper to MacAlister of Loup.
His descendants include the famous McCallum piping family from Campbeltown.
MacALISTER, John
He appeared at the Edinburgh competition of 1838 when he was listed as “For the best dressed: second, to John MacAlister, Piper to D. Davidson, Esq. of Tulloch.”
In 1844 he won 2nd prize as piper to John Hay MacKenzie of Cromartie when he played ‘The MacNab’s Salute’.
He also won 2nd prize at the Northern Meeting Prize Pipe that same year.
McALLISTER, Tom (senior)
Pipe Major of the famous Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band where he was largely responsible for a tremendous upgrade in the overall standard of pipe band playing.
McALLISTER, Tom (junior) - 2001
Followed his brother John K (see) as pipe major of Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band where he formed a formidable partnership with Drum Sergeant Alex Duthart which saw the band win four World Pipe Band Championships in 1970, 1973, 1974 and 1980.
Retired from Shotts in 1985 to concentrate on the family reed making business.
MacARFRAE, Michael
Piper to the Duke of Hamilton and a pupil of Angus MacKay.
Winner of the Prize Pipe at the Northern Meeting in 1854.
THE MacARTHURS, PIPERS TO THE MacDONALDS ................................................................
Donald
1770s had John Cumming sent to him as an ‘apprentice’
Charles
Piper to the Earl of Eglinton
2nd Prize Falkirk Tryst 1781
John (Edinburgh)
1783 competed Prize Pipe, Edinburgh
John
Piper to Ranald MacDonald, Esq. of Staffa.
Competed at Edinburgh: 1804 3rd;
1806 2nd but declined it
.............................................................................................................................................
John MacARTHUR
From Dunkeld.
Competed at Prize Pipe in Edinburgh in 1823 when he “arrived too late” and also in 1824.
MacAULEY, Angus
From Penilodden although in 1946 he moved to London and then when he was 50 emigrated to New Zealand.
He was first taught by his father but later went to Willie Lawrie.
After World War 1 he joined the Lovat Scouts, serving as a piper under Willie Ross.
Later he was to become pipe major.
From 1926 until 1935 he studied Piobaireachd with John MacDonald of Inverness.
Took over the bagpipe making business of Donald Munro when he died in 1936.
MacBAYNE, John
Piper at Killin in 1551 when his house was attacked.
MacBEAN, John
Piper to Lord Middleton in 1869 when he won double of Strathspeys & Marches and Piobaireachd at the Northern Meeting and also in 1873 when he was second in the Champions’ Gold Medal.
In 1877 he won the Gold Medal for Piobaireachd and in 1883 won the Champion Medal for Former Winners of the Gold Medal after which he seems to have retired from competitive piping.
McBEATH/McBETH, John
Competed at Edinburgh: 1829 ‘piper to the Highland Society of London’ u/p; 1832 3rd, piper to the Highland Society of London; 1838 ‘First, a Bagpipe handsomely ornamented, to John MacBeth, Piper to the Highland Society of London’
In 1844 he competed at the Northern Meeting and won the Prize Pipe when he was Piper to the Duke of Sutherland.
He also won the Strathspeys at the same event.
McBEATH/McBETH, William 1755-
Played at 1841 Inverness (not Northern Meeting) led on and off the field.
THE McCALLUMS OF CAMPBELTOWN .....................................................................................
Archibald 1860
Taught his grandson, Hugh
Hugh
Grandson of Archibald, from whom he received his piping tuition.
Nicol
From Kilmartin, Argyllshire.
Served in the 8th Argylls as a piper, and as pipe major from 1930 until 1941.
Winner of the Gold Medal at Oban in 1930.
Ronnie 1905-1986
From Campbeltown although his association with Inveraray was far better known.
Taught by his father Archibald, one of the Kintyre MacCallums.
Also taught by Willie Thomson,
While he was piper to the Duke of Argyll he lived at Strachur.
He taught countless locals including schools at Inveraray and Oban.
In 1924 he joined the TA 8th Argylls. During the war he served as pipe major of the regiment’s 11th battalion. Afterwards he returned to the 8th Argylls and was pipe major of this Grade 1 band until they were disbanded in 1967.
He was made a Member of the British Empire in 1964.
Hugh (Born 1942)
Born in Campbeltown, he started piping at the age of nine.
After early instruction from his brother Ronald, he had a period of about one year with Pipe Major John MacKenzie, a family friend and also a native of Campbeltown.
In 1953 his father sent him to Inveraray to have tuition from his cousin Pipe Major Ronnie MacCallum, then piper to the Duke of Argyll. Played with both the Campbeltown Pipe Band and the 8th Argylls.
One of the most successful pipers of his generation and his impeccable instrument and consistency were a by-word.
Now spends considerable time teaching from his home in Dunblane and at piping schools in Scotland and overseas.
In 1995 the National Trust for Scotland commissioned him to compose a piobaireachd, ‘The Raising of the Standard at Glenfinnan’, to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the landing of Prince Charles Edward Stuart at Glenfinnan in August 1745.
Major Prizes
Northern Meeting
Gold Medal 1967
Clasp 1972, 74, 77, 85
Argyllshire Gathering
Gold Medal
Open 1972
Glenfiddich
Championship 1978
MSR 1974, 78
Piobaireachd 1979
William
From Campbeltown although he now lives in Bearsden.
Taught by uncles Ronald and Hugh and another cousin, P/M Ronald McCallum, Willie is perhaps the most consistent piper of the Millennium era.
................................................................................................................
MacCALLUM, John died 1900
Was a piper in the Govan Burgh Police and later joined the Royal Scots, serving as Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion from 1889 until 1900, when he died from cholera while serving in Poona.
McCOLL, James. (born 1928 - )
Born in Shotts, and lived in Glasgow before emigrating to USA where he now lives in Oregon.
Won the Gold Medal for Piobaireachd at Oban in 1955.
First taught by Tom McAllister at Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band and later also studied with Willie Ross, Iain MacPherson and Robert Reid.
Australian piper from Melbourne who, after a spell in Canberra, moved to Scotland in the 1970s where he became piping instructor to the Inverness District schools.
McALEER, Harry
From Ulster.
A piper in the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band before succeeding Ian MacLellan as pipe major.
Died from a heart attack.
MacALLISTER, C.E.
Served as Pipe Major of the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders from 1939 until 1945 and then the 5th Battalion as well as the 7th Battalion.
MacALISTER, John
Town piper in Campbeltown until 1777.
He was also piper to the West Fencibles and competed at Falkirk in 1782 when he won the Prize Pipe.
He was also entered to play at the Edinburgh Exhibition in 1783 when he was listed as piper to MacAlister of Loup.
His descendants include the famous McCallum piping family from Campbeltown.
MacALISTER, John
He appeared at the Edinburgh competition of 1838 when he was listed as “For the best dressed: second, to John MacAlister, Piper to D. Davidson, Esq. of Tulloch.”
In 1844 he won 2nd prize as piper to John Hay MacKenzie of Cromartie when he played ‘The MacNab’s Salute’.
He also won 2nd prize at the Northern Meeting Prize Pipe that same year.
McALLISTER, Tom (senior)
Pipe Major of the famous Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band where he was largely responsible for a tremendous upgrade in the overall standard of pipe band playing.
McALLISTER, Tom (junior) -
Retired from Shotts in 1985 to concentrate on the family reed making business.
MacARFRAE, Michael
Piper to the Duke of Hamilton and a pupil of Angus MacKay.
Winner of the Prize Pipe at the Northern Meeting in 1854.
THE MacARTHURS, PIPERS TO THE MacDONALDS ................................................................
Donald
1770s had John Cumming sent to him as an ‘apprentice’
Charles
Piper to the Earl of Eglinton
2nd Prize Falkirk Tryst 1781
John (Edinburgh)
1783 competed Prize Pipe, Edinburgh
John
Piper to Ranald MacDonald, Esq. of Staffa.
Competed at Edinburgh: 1804 3rd;
1806 2nd but declined it
.............................................................................................................................................
John MacARTHUR
From Dunkeld.
Competed at Prize Pipe in Edinburgh in 1823 when he “arrived too late” and also in 1824.
MacAULEY, Angus
From Penilodden although in 1946 he moved to London and then when he was 50 emigrated to New Zealand.
He was first taught by his father but later went to Willie Lawrie.
After World War 1 he joined the Lovat Scouts, serving as a piper under Willie Ross.
Later he was to become pipe major.
From 1926 until 1935 he studied Piobaireachd with John MacDonald of Inverness.
Took over the bagpipe making business of Donald Munro when he died in 1936.
MacBAYNE, John
Piper at Killin in 1551 when his house was attacked.
MacBEAN, John
Piper to Lord Middleton in 1869 when he won double of Strathspeys & Marches and Piobaireachd at the Northern Meeting and also in 1873 when he was second in the Champions’ Gold Medal.
In 1877 he won the Gold Medal for Piobaireachd and in 1883 won the Champion Medal for Former Winners of the Gold Medal after which he seems to have retired from competitive piping.
McBEATH/McBETH, John
Competed at Edinburgh: 1829 ‘piper to the Highland Society of London’ u/p; 1832 3rd, piper to the Highland Society of London; 1838 ‘First, a Bagpipe handsomely ornamented, to John MacBeth, Piper to the Highland Society of London’
In 1844 he competed at the Northern Meeting and won the Prize Pipe when he was Piper to the Duke of Sutherland.
He also won the Strathspeys at the same event.
McBEATH/McBETH, William 1755-
Played at 1841 Inverness (not Northern Meeting) led on and off the field.
THE McCALLUMS OF CAMPBELTOWN .....................................................................................
Archibald 1860
Taught his grandson, Hugh
Hugh
Grandson of Archibald, from whom he received his piping tuition.
Nicol
From Kilmartin, Argyllshire.
Served in the 8th Argylls as a piper, and as pipe major from 1930 until 1941.
Winner of the Gold Medal at Oban in 1930.
Ronnie 1905-
Taught by his father Archibald, one of the Kintyre MacCallums.
Also taught by Willie Thomson,
While he was piper to the Duke of Argyll he lived at Strachur.
He taught countless locals including schools at Inveraray and Oban.
In 1924 he joined the TA 8th Argylls. During the war he served as pipe major of the regiment’s 11th battalion. Afterwards he returned to the 8th Argylls and was pipe major of this Grade 1 band until they were disbanded in 1967.
He was made a Member of the British Empire in 1964.
Hugh (Born 1942)
Born in Campbeltown, he started piping at the age of nine.
After early instruction from his brother Ronald, he had a period of about one year with Pipe Major John MacKenzie, a family friend and also a native of Campbeltown.
In 1953 his father sent him to Inveraray to have tuition from his cousin Pipe Major Ronnie MacCallum, then piper to the Duke of Argyll. Played with both the Campbeltown Pipe Band and the 8th Argylls.
One of the most successful pipers of his generation and his impeccable instrument and consistency were a by-
In 1995 the National Trust for Scotland commissioned him to compose a piobaireachd, ‘The Raising of the Standard at Glenfinnan’, to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the landing of Prince Charles Edward Stuart at Glenfinnan in August 1745.
Major Prizes
Northern Meeting
Gold Medal 1967
Clasp 1972, 74, 77, 85
Argyllshire Gathering
Gold Medal
Open 1972
Glenfiddich
Championship 1978
MSR 1974, 78
Piobaireachd 1979
William
From Campbeltown although he now lives in Bearsden.
Taught by uncles Ronald and Hugh and another cousin, P/M Ronald McCallum, Willie is perhaps the most consistent piper of the Millennium era.
................................................................................................................
MacCALLUM, John died 1900
Was a piper in the Govan Burgh Police and later joined the Royal Scots, serving as Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion from 1889 until 1900, when he died from cholera while serving in Poona.
McCOLL, James. (born 1928 -
Won the Gold Medal for Piobaireachd at Oban in 1955.
First taught by Tom McAllister at Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band and later also studied with Willie Ross, Iain MacPherson and Robert Reid.
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