That’s the lecture over for another year. It went down extremely well with John Frater (pictured in full flight) making some very good points about the contribution of General Thomason and Archibald Campbell. I don’t think I have heard a better put down of those who – for reasons best known to themselves – seem to have made an industry out of criticising the latter. As John said, he was anything but prescriptive and there is plenty of evidence to prove it. You can read a transcript in the PT later.
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The piping was not bad either. Innes and Fiona both had superb pipes and marched in playing their tunes with hardly any  drifitng of the drones by the end. It proves it can be done. Tuning is a waste of time in a concert situation. So long as there is adequate space near at hand (they both tuned up in my room) then there is no need to bore the audience with endless shifting of the drone tops.
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The fact that John had chosen some of the finest pieces in the repertoire helped the night: Big Spree, MacSwan, Black Donald and Old Men of the Shells.
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Andrew Wright, who was in attendance with Isabel, must have been very pleased with his pupils’ performances.
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Catriona Smith was there supporting her son. Innes is studying for his medic PHD at Edin Uni at the moment. Something to do with joints. He’s doing a 40 mile cycle tomorrow in preparation for a 100 mile charity run. His Donald MacLeod drones have never sounded so well.
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‘He would say that wouldn’t he – he’s playing at the CoP Lecture’ – well my friends, have a listen next time Innes is out (maybe at the SPA) and see what you think. This is one superb pipe,
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Leslie Barrett tells me that Mary Ann MacKinnon has left her job at Abertay Uni, where she did such good work for piping, to take up a job further north. I hope the piping activities that she started can be kept going up Tay way.
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PS conference starts first thing with a paper on the Campbell Cant. to be given by Patrick Molard. He travelled over from La Belle France along with Anne Lore.
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Birnam Hotel is much improved from the last time we were here. Nice rooms and very helpful staff.

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