It Takes a Lot of Wind to Blow a BagPipe

 

 

In 1961 in the space of one  year the Carleton Place Pipe Band performer publicly testifying to hours of hard work to  turn a bunch of beginners into a competent band of musicians. Ex Cameron Highlander proposed the idea to Carleton Place’s  Legion Branch #192 to found a band under the auspices of  the local legion. They received permission to use the Legion’s name but at that time the Legion was carrying a large debt so they could not help the band financially.

Bill Keen, a piper of over 50 years from Almonte was recruited to act as an instructor along with one cracked chanter and three devoted pupils. As each of them progressed to the real thing from the chanter and the tabletop they used Bill purchased the instrument needed which at that time was $90 for bagpipes and $70 for drums. Their goal was to play publicly November 11, 1959.

1961

Since money was low there was no extra funds for kilts so they all chose a uniform of Grey pants which everyone owned, battle dressed tunics dyed blue, white shirts and Legion ties. As November 11th approached hours of practise took a toll on the band and there was actually a casualty. One of the junior drummers was far too enthusiastic in learning new twirling skills and accidentally  hit himself in the nose drawing blood and a week later lost his sticks when he accidentally threw them out the window.

On the 11th they led the Remembrance Day parade in Carleton Place and in the afternoon the town of Almonte welcomed them. The only mishap was that the bagpipes froze slightly–but after everything they had been through that was only a small mishap.

 

 

1961

The group practised over the winter but still the issue of uniforms came up– and the money issue was no better. Instead of giving up they held monthly pipe band dances at the Legion to try and solve the dilemma. Along with the monies from the dances the local bank backed a loan for $1000 and an order for kilts, spats, sporrans and hose tops was placed. The kilts from Scotland took about two months to arrive and the first appearance of a well dressed band was at a Legion Hall dance in 1960. There were 14 members of the band at this point and a dozen others practising under Major McGregor of Lanark. The Carleton Place Bagpipe Band in the end became so much more than a band. What would life be without bagpipes?

 

 

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  02 Oct 1961, Mon,  Page 20

 

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun andScreamin’ Mamas (USA)

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.

The Carleton Place Kazoo Band — Great Moments in Kazoo History

When The Carleton Place Citizen’s Band Came Marching in to Lanark

And the Carleton Place Citizens Band Played On For Leah Bryce – Jean Craig — Irene Chamney– and Ruth Brown

The Beckwith Highlanders and “Humpy Billy” Moore

I Belong to Glasgow in the Month of August

 

The Public Speakers of Carleton Place 1962

 

 

 

Remember the public speaking  and the penmanship contests of long ago? How about having to do research things on subjects that involved the Encyclopedia Britannica and not the internet?

In March of 1965 Carleton Place had two provincial champions take top honours in the Royal Canadian Legion Public Speaking contest. In the category of  Grades 11-12-13 Judith Gollinger who had won both provincial titles in the 7-8 categories in the past year was a  clear winner.

Judith, age 17, was a Grade 11 student, and upon graduation from Carleton Place High School hoped to put her way with words and people to profitable use in radio-tv after a course at Ryerson. There were 24 speakers at the Eastview Legion and zone chairman Ivan Hamilton of Carleton Place called it one of the most successful contest in the five years the Legion had been organizing it.

Did Judith Gollinger ever make it to a career in media? In December of 1959, young Patsy Williams of R. R. 2 Carleton Place wrote a letter to Uncle Ray’s Mail Bag in the Ottawa Citizen. Uncle Ray’s Mail Bag was a syndicated Canadian column that was extremely popular. Patsy later became a popular newspaper columnist–what happened to Judith Gollinger?

 

Photo from Karen Dorman.. Education Association of Lanark County Winners Feb 9th St. Mary’s School– Michelle Bird of G. L. Comba School winner of the storytelling division. Steven Miller North Elmsley, Kathy Lowry Carleton Place High School, Julia Saunders Carleton Place High School. Mr. Hugh Duncan secretary treasurer of the Education Association.