Our President Jack Taylor was unable to attend the Annual Conference of the Society this year and I filled his shoes over the weekend. The Conference was held once more at Fisher’s Hotel, Pitlochry, and despite the renovation work going on in the building I think the Conference was highly successful.

The Friday night began with the College of Piping Lecture. This was given by

 Dr John Purser, a learned scholar on Scotland’s music. His subject was

‘The Visualisation of Piobaireachd’ and an audience of more than 100 listened attentively throughout his presentation which was liberally enhanced with photographs and diagrams.

 Four piobaireachd were heard from John Angus Smith (‘MacNeill is Lord There’ and ‘Finlay’s Lament’) and Dr Angus MacDonald (‘Sound of the Waves’ and ‘MacKinnon’s Lament’).

 The Lecture, the music, a substantial buffet and whisky tasting set the weekend off to a good start. I know the membership appreciates the effort and expense the College goes to in presenting its Annual Lecture.

The following morning I welcomed 70 or so members to the Conference and we began with a talk on that landmark publication ‘Binneas is Boreraig’. An introduction from Dugald MacNeill and its compiler Dr Roddy Ross took to the floor and enthralled the audience with his tales of Celtic mythology and its connection with geography and music. Dr Ross was filmed for us by member Hector Russell and we hope to have some of the video on the Society website in due course.

After a break Keith Sanger and Roddy Cannon gave us a very interesting look at the MacRa / Chisholm papers and the individuals concerned with these documents. A break for lunch and we had a highly successful ‘Masterclass’ with Duncan Watson putting two young pipers through their paces on the ‘Lament for the Viscount of Dundee’ and the ‘Lament for the Children’.

After tea we had a report from the National Piping Centre on their progress since their founding in 1996.

The dinner and ceilidh on Saturday evening went very well with a lot of tunes played and a nice atmosphere afterwards.

On the Sunday we had a session on the Set Tunes from Duncan Watson and Stuart Samson and this was again very well received.

The AGM followed. No major issues were raised though there was some concern over the choice of venue. All office-bearers were re-elected with acclamation and Duncan Watson and Dr William Wotherspoon were elected to the General Committee with Rae Bell standing down. I thanked Rae for his considerable contribution to the Society’s endeavours over the years.

 Roddy Cannon announced that he too would be winding down his activities and the AGM gave him a hearty round of applause for all he has done for us over more than 20 years on the Music Committee.

The meeting closed at lunchtime with thanks to the chair.