Welcome to me Newsroom! As ye can obviously figure out, news and events related to Scotland and the bagpipe world in general are way too big fer me Main Page, so from now on, if there be any such news, ye'll be findin' it here.
Our top bagpipe story:To whet everyone's whistle fer ScottishPower Tunes of Glory, who else but the ScottishPower Pipe Band to bring a little Highland magic into the lives of the folks attendin' the ceremony! The lads performed on Thursday evenin', April 4th, at the Washington Irving High School Auditorium in Lower Manhattan! The proceedings kicked off with Manhattan's own County Monaghan Pipe Band, who, happily, also joined the ScottishPowers for a set or two of tunes! Also on hand: singer Phil Cunningham, who added his own bit o' Highland Magic tae the proceedings! Then, on Friday, April 5th, the ScottishPowers toured the Big Apple and staged some impromptu performances, including a spot on NBC's Today Show! Head here for the full details!
And no less a soul than Sir Sean Connery himself led the mass ensemble at Saturday afternoon's big blow. He had made the announcement a week previous in Washington, D.C., on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Buildin', just as March was comin' tae an end; and was joined by members of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Pipes & Drums! They'd last gotten tergether in 2001, along wi' the folks from the American-Scottish Foundation, when the said Foundation presented Sir Sean wi' their annual William Wallace Award! Check out Graeme Smith's website wrap-up, with tons o' Tunes of Glory pics, by clickin' here!
Just seven weeks after losing her beloved sister, HRH Princess Margaret Rose, Countess of Snowdon, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Celebrations were dealt a second tragic blow, with the passing on the eve of Easter Sunday, of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. The Queen Mum, as she was affectionately known, died in her sleep at 11 am EST at her Windsor home, on March 30th, 2002. Please click here or here for the complete tributes and additional information.
Yer auld Uncle Fergus continues to remember the September 11th, 2001 demolishing of the World Trade Center Complex in Lower Manhattan. In what some have already called the worst single day's loss of human life in the history of either entity, over 300 New York City Policemen and Firefighters --- including several high-ranking such officers --- perished beneath the collapse of the once-noble Twin Towers. 343 Firefighters were killed, along with about 23 police officers, according to officials from both units, as various anonymous sources told the Associated Press. At least 4 FDNY Fire Companies, consisting of some 40 Firefighters, were reported as being inside Two World Trade Center when the building collapsed.
Four of the FDNY officials among the dead were:
First Deputy Commissioner William Feehan, who had had over 40 years experience on the job, and was formerly acting Fire Commissioner under then-Mayor David Dinkins; Chief of Department Peter Ganci, who was the FDNY's highest-ranking uniformed officer; Chief Raymond Downey, the most decorated officer in the Department; and Chaplain Father Mychal Fallon Judge, O.F.M., one of the six official FDNY Chaplains, who had arrived on the scene to comfort some of the victims of the tragedy. Assigned to the Franciscan Fathers, Father Mike, as he was sometimes known, was also for many years Chaplain to the Men of the Pipes and Drums of the FDNY Emerald Society. Father Judge was 68 years old.
Meehan and Ganci were killed by falling debris as they were coordinating rescue efforts amongst their brethren, along with Father Judge and his unidentified driver, who was also killed. Sources say there was no trace of at least three of the Department's most elite units, Rescue Companies 1, 2 and 4. Sources also told Uncle Fergus' Newsroom that some members of the FDNY Emeralds' Pipe Band, who had been assigned to the rescue operation, were themselves reported as unaccounted for, notably drum section member Durrell "Bronco" Pearsall.
Upon discovering the body of Father Judge, who was administering the last rites to fellow Firefighter Danny Suhr, when he, like Feehan and Ganci, was hit by falling debris, which in turn triggered a massive coronary, several grief-stricken colleagues took his body to nearby St. Peter's Church on Barclay Street, and later moved said mortal remains back to the Friary of St. Francis, where funeral services were subsequently held on Saturday, September 15th. Only the day before the Trade Center explosions, Father Judge had delivered a homily in which he reminded his parishioners to to enjoy every waking moment of their lives, according to Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, another of the Department's Chaplains.
Born on Brooklyn's Dean Street of parents from County Leitrim, Mychal Judge entered the Franciscan Order at age 15. He was ordained in Washington, D.C.'s Holy Land shrine, February 25th, 1961. He served as Pastor of 2 separate New Jersey parishes, was Assistant to the President of Albany, NY's Siera College between 1976 and 1979. In 1985, Father Judge studied at the University of Kent at Canterbury, England, befure returning to St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street in Manhattan (fittingly, located directly across the street from Engine Company No. 1 and Ladder 24), where, in addition to maintaining his living quarters and offices, he subsequently founded the St. Francis AIDS Ministry.
He was appointed FDNY Chaplain in 1991 by then-Fire Commissioner Carlos Rivera. He is survived by a twin sister, Dympna Jessich; a second sister, Mrs. Erin McTeran; a granddaughter; and various friends and other members of the Department. The homily for Father Judge was recited by Father Michael Duffy, a longtime friend and fellow Franciscan.
ScottishPower Tunes of Glory, too, paid its own tribute to 9/11. Shortly after the terrorist attacks, yer auld Uncle Fergus received a communication from the event's Chief Information Officer, Miss Joan Haig, thanking all the participating Pipe Bands and individual Pipers on both sides of the Atlantic for their profound enthusiasm for Tunes of Glory, as well as for their insistence that the march go on as originally scheduled. While the mood and sentiment of the event undoubtedly changed, its original mission did not. 10,000 Pipers and Drummers marched along 6th Avenue, starting from West 43rd, 44th and 45th Streets, raising funds for cancer research [Gilda's Club in the USA; Marie Curie Cancer Care in the UK]. As the production began takin' shape, talks were set into motion between the Pipefest crew and their New York area partners concerning how some of the funds to be raised could directly benefit the families, friends and loved ones of those whose lives were lost in this crisis.
The organizers then subsequently announced the financial support of both ScottishPower and the Scottish Tourist Board's VisitScotland campaign, in that they have combined their resources to provide the budget required to put this massive undertaking in place on a much greater scale than had been originally envisioned. In mid-October 2001, Susan Tills assumed the duties of New York Area Project Manager, her function being to serve as the primary contact for all North American-based Pipers and Drummers. She also headed up recruitment for all local area Pipe Bands. Congratulations Susan! And check out the Paradise's exclusive report, complete with a thank-you list of all participating U.S. Pipe Bands who took part in the march!
And one month to the day after the tragedy, the Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations (ANAPBA) asked Pipers and Drummers from all over the world to take part in an unprecedented Worldwide Pipers' Memorial, to honor the victims and their loved ones. To learn which Pipers and Pipe Bands took part, and to find out what their heartfelt messages were, check out the all-new www.anapba.org site, which will be re-established soon!
From me confidant Roger Kennedy comes a reminder re the Hamilton, Ontario, International Military Tattoo, the 2002 edition of which is set fer June 8th and 9th, at the Copps Coliseum in downtown Hamilton! Another big Canadian Tattoo is the biannual Kingston Heritage Tattoo at Old Fort Henry, which ran there on August 4th and 5th, 2001. That weekend, Canada's law-enforcement community was saluted, along with the 75th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion. And as always, nothing in Canada beats the Nova Scotia International Tattoo at the Halifax Metro Centre; the ceremonies there begin June 29th, and wrap up July 7th!
Roger also wants us to let ye know about a relatively new military music event in Norfolk/Hampton Roads, VA: The Virginia International Arts Festival Tattoo! Click here for more details!
Recappin' the line o' march details fer ScottishPower Tunes of Glory NYC: over 10,000 Pipers and Drummers --- including almost all of the Bagpipe Bands who took part in the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade --- will took over 6th Avenue, starting off at West 44th Street, in 10 giant blocks of 1000 players each; they then converged upon Central Park's Sheep Meadow, where the marchers dispersed. The organizers raised over $1,000,000 (U.S.) for furthering the efforts of both Marie Curie Cancer Care and Gilda's Clubs Worldwide. For a final online salute to all who took part, please click here!
In France, a memorial cairn was constructed, in memory of all the Pipers who were killed in action, or were wounded or classified as missing in action during World War I. Click here for the full story!
Just when we thought our Long Island Scottish Games would nae be as interesting as we'd thought, what happens? Well, this year, by popular demand, we're repeating our pipe band competition for the August 24th, 2002 event, as a companion piece of sorts to our traditional solo piping and heavy athletic competitions. Our usual Pipe Band suspects --- namely, our two host Bands, Clan Gordon of Locust Valley/Lattingtown and Amityville American Legion Post 1015; along with the returning Rockland County Scots and the Northport Pipers --- will again battled against each other and these additional Pipe Bands in a war of musical wills involvin' their Grade IV and V Pipe Band status:
The Manchester, CT Regional Police & Fire Pipes & Drums, led by their big-hearted Drum Major, Ox Gara; the Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipers; two Babylon, Long Island-based Bands, the Roisin Dubh Pipe Band and the Saffron United Gaelic Pipes & Drums; from Mineola, Long Island, the Innis Fada Gaelic Pipe Band; from Massapequa Park, the Tara Pipe Band of AOH Division 15; the NY State Fraternal Order of Police Pipe Band; the Eastern Long Island Police Pipe Band; and the NYC Corrections Department Pipe Band.
AS always, this event will be sanctioned as per EUSPBA Rules. And here be the results of last year's inaugural competition:
In Grade V: Best Ensemble --- Innis Fada; 1st --- Manchester Regional Police & Fire; 2nd --- Eastern Long Island Police; 3rd --- Innis Fada. In Grade IV: Best Ensemble --- Roisin Dubh; 1st --- Saffron United Gaelic; 2nd --- Roisin Dubh; 3rd --- Innis Fada. Saffron United Gaelic also took home the honours of being chosen Drum Corps of the Day.
The 2001 Games Honorary Chieftain, Angus MacKenzie, had faithfully served as the longtime voice on the microphone at the Scottish Games; but he'd been ill for quite some time, and, if the MacDuffs had hoped tae gi' him his biggest and best send-off EVER, they got their wish in abundance!
Old and new friends joined us last year, too! Among our old friends: Robert Mouland, with his Celtic harp and Baroque fiddle; Debbie Brewson-Wilson and her own harp; Christina Harrison, singer/guitarist; Ronnie and Ann Stewart and their family (Ol' Ronnie never fails to tickle us with his full dress Ancient Hunting Stewart regalia and his trusty fiddle!); Jim Erg; Charlotte MacBean MacShea; Robert E. MacLeod; Michael MacLaren of the Clan MacLaren; Commander David Ian Asman of Clan Asman; John Hilliard, President of the St. Andrews Society of New York State; our contingent from the New York Caledonian Club, who also attends the Medieval Festival @ Fort Tryon Park; Rich Hawkins, from the Amityville Pipers, who cheered his bandmates on from their own special booth; Cmdr. Conrad Bender, Sgt. Bob Small and our 42nd Highland Regimental Color Guard (Bob was still braggin' about his bit part in The Patriot; in, fact, he said, he even bought the DVD!) --- oh, we could go on and on!
Amongst our new friends, we met George and Olga Cameron; Sister Louise Campbell from Clan Campbell; a young lad named Drew, who had been engaged to play the pipes for the Scottish Dancing competitions (along with his father, David); Ed White, who styled himself as Rob Roy, the Highland Magician; Arthur Lang, from Clan MacDonald, who didn't win the best-looking classic cars competition, but whom we liked anyway; and two new representatives from Icelandic Airlines and British Airways, respectively: Karen Hassett and Bill Weaver.
We were also visited by Magnus Orr, the man behind ScottishPower Tunes of Glory! Here are the tunes the Pipers played there:
Green Hills of Tyrol; When the Battle's Over; Lochanside; Farewell to the Creeks; Cock o' the North; Scotland the Brave and The Minstrel Boy. The first three tunes were played in 3/4; the next three in 6/8; and the last two in 4/4. If ye'd like to challenge auld Magnus Orr tae try an' top ScottishPower Tunes of Glory two years from now (verra likely, in Edinburgh again!), let the man know by writin' tae his offices, c/o Epic Concepts Ltd., 45 Frederick Street, Edinburgh, Scotland EH2 1EP.
Our day in Scotland --- by way of Nassau County --- ended with another first, wherein our beloved Pipe and Drum Major Joe Brady, Jr. led the 11 Pipe Bands in a final march up and down the Grounds toward the Mansion, as had been the case earlier at the opening ceremony; this was followed by the presentation of the awards and blessing of the departing particpants and other attendees. Click here or here for the full story of a wonderful day out in Scotland at Old Westbury Gardens!
Each year, while the rest of the bagpipe world focuses on Glasgow and the World Pipe Band Championships, at least one Pipe Band couldn't make it there: The Mystic Highlanders' Pipe Band from Ledyard, Connecticut. And why was this, yer auld Uncle Fergus can hear ye askin'? Because they're there to headline the annual Night of Irish Music in Narragansett, Rhode Island --- hosted by legendary Santa Claus to the Stars Brady White! Brady, as ye may or may not know, is the Santa whose likeness is so precious that he has had his beard insured by Lloyd's of London! Dressed in his customary "Santa O'Claus" regalia, Brady is always piped in by members of the Mystic Highlanders as they kick off the free event with an early Christmas salute. Proceeds from the event benefit the Margaret Brady-Chellel Alzheimer's Respite Care Fund, named after Brady's mom, who passed away from Alzheimer's nearly a decade ago. Click here for the official event description!
FROM THE RINGWOOD PIPE BAND WEBPAGE: The Scottish Tattoo returns to London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, April 21st! Ian McClennan, Head of the Ringwood Pipers, promises another stellar performance in full tartan splendor --- and what's more, for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, this Scottish Tattoo will be pullin' out every last stop ye can think of! Click here for the full story!
Turning now to ceremonial news from the files o' New York's Bravest:
Wednesday, June 6th, 2001 --- the anniversary of D-Day, no less (more of that in a bit!) ---the FDNY held its 132nd Medal Day Ceremony, staged as usual on the grounds of City Hall Park, where the members of the New York City Fire Department once again marked the day with mingled solemnity and joy. Expect similar emotions later this October at the New York City Firefighters' Monument, located at Riverside Drive and West 100th Street --- the customary site of the FDNY's other major ceremony, Firefighters' Memorial Day, scheduled for an undetermined Wednesday in the aforementioned tenth month. Of course, the FDNY Emerald Society Pipe Band provides the musical accompaniment for both ceremonies.
Chief Brian Dixon, longtime voice of public ceremony in the FDNY, presided over the 2001 Medal Day presentation, where 50 FDNY Medals were bestowed upon 48 individual New York City Firefighters and two Fire Companies.
June 6th, as noted, was also the anniversary of D-Day --- The Longest Day, as many o' ye may know it. Our favorite legend from D-Day has to do with the story of Lord Lovat's Piper, Bill Millin, who blew his bagpipes while all those bombs were bursting all around him during the rescue of Ste. Mere Eglise at the end of the great Invasion. Of course, eventually, Bill Millin survived long enough tae become a veteran Piper of some renown --- even appearing as himself in the film version of The Longest Day (unbilled, of course), but more than delighted to recreate his real-life odyssey for the Fox cameras. (By the way, Richard and I have been scanning the sound waves of cyberspace in pursuit of a working sound file on the 20th Century-Fox Fanfare with CinemaScope Extension. We canna find any here in the States. If you think you can help out, e-mail us and let us know.)
Well, that's me news fer now. Remember, if it be the latest and hottest in bagpipe-related activity, Uncle Fergus' Newsroom is where ye need tae be! Slainte!
Haste ye back to me Main Page!
