Interview of Angus Macpherson, 1, 2

Angus Macpherson Nov 9 2011, Nov 14 2011 Born: Angus Macpherson, Dec 12 1951, in Johnstone, Scotland (between Paisley & Glasgow) First of four siblings (2 sisters and 1 brother). One sister lives in England, just north of Liverpool. She took music lessons for a time, but gave it up. Another lives in Oakville, and is married to a piper. She is a former drummer with the Vancouver Ladies & Burnaby Ladies Pipe Band. Her son is a Pipe Major and also plays in the 78th Frasers, along with a daughter who is a tenor drummer. Youngest brother was a drummer with Triumph Street & City of Victoria Pipe Band. Father: John Macpherson, born in Glasgow Dec. 25 1922. Second oldest, older sister (lives in Vancouver), 2 younger brothers and a younger sister. Older sister fluent in Gaelic, as she was born on Skye. Younger sister was active member of the Gaelic Society, John did not speak it himself. Went to Harris often for holidays to visit family. A cousin named Andrew MacPherson owns a B&B in Portree. Both sides of his family were "wee freeze" Presbyterians, who did not take kindly to noise on Sundays. Paternal Grandfather: John Macpherson. Paternal Great-Grandfather: John Macpherson. Born on the Isle of Skye, raised outside Portree, and moved to Glasgow in late teens. Mother: Isabel Panayotou. Born in Glasgow in 1923, brought up on Argyle St. Paternal Grandfather: Athanaseos Panayotou, from Icaria, Greece. Maternal Grandmother: Born in Cushendun, Northern Ireland. Worked in a munitions factory during the First World War in Glasgow. Angus attended Netherlee Primary and Eastwood Secondary in Glasgow, and has happy memories of school in Scotland. He is still in touch with friends from Primary School. In Secondary, they wore uniforms, and boys and girls had separate classes. The belt was still used by teachers when he was in Secondary School. He played on the school and community soccer teams. They moved to New Westminster, British Columbia, when he was in grade 9. He noticed many differences between the school systems, such as uniforms, lockers, etc. Angus tried to get rid of his Scottish accent as soon as possible, as some people thought it sounded funny. He attended New Westminster Secondary School. Latin had been a required class back in Scotland, which was unique in B.C. He graduated in 1969 and then attended University of British Columbia for 3 years. He also worked with BCTel in the summers, and had just started the Triumph Street Band, so he left university to work at BCTel first time. Unfortunately they weren't hiring, and so he was unemployed for a few months, before getting a job in inside sales for a steel manufacturer and distributor. Later became sales manager for BC in a different industrial steel distributor, due to retire in the next year. Moving to Canada: His father John worked as a crane driver at the docks in Glasgow. During the 1960's, the shipping industry in town was no longer economically friendly. He already had 2 sisters living in B.C. which encouraged the move. The family almost moved to Australia instead. John ended up working as a custodian for BCTel to get started in Canada, before becoming a Sherriff's Officer, which he did until retirement. The family flew on British United. He remembers a stewardess on the airplane mistook a passenger's thick Scottish accent for Dutch/German. Angus didn't want to move, he was 14, and was very connected to his friends and life in Scotland. Angus only recently got his Canadian citizenship, as he always had an idea that he may go back to Scotland. He remembers waking up his first morning in New Westminster, and found the electric wires and telephone lines completely foreign. He remembers going down to Columbia Street and buying Easter candy, which was another Canadian novelty, as it was Easter Holiday. Angus began playing bagpipes with the Boy's Brigade at age 11, until the family left Scotland. His first teacher was named Billy Cline, who told Angus he would be a Pipe Major one day. The Boy's Brigade was similar to the Boy Scouts, and had levels called "Knots", "Lifeboys", "Boy's Brigade", etc. with different uniforms. You could earn badges, and it was military style, similar to cadets. They did a lot of marching and performances. Not every Boy's Brigade had a pipe band. He was part of the 231 Glasgow Company. In New Westminster, his cousin Drew had been taking piping lessons from Malcolm Nicholson, and Angus joined him. The Kiwanis Boy's Pipe Band played in Santa Rosa, and got to perform at Disneyland. They were involved in many competitions such as the European Championships, but did not go to the World Pipe Band Championships. He was one of the founding members of the Triumph Street Pipe Band. His most influential piping instructor was Hal Senyk. Also took lessons from John A. MacLeod and Jimmy McMillan. He would listen to records of the Powell River Pipe Band and the Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band. He saw performers like Murray Henderson, Ian Morrison, and Donald MacPherson. He remembers the stories they told almost more so than the performances. He went to the World Championships with Triumph Street in 1976, 1979 and 1988. They won the drumming championship in 1979. Angus also taught with the Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band at that time, who won the Worlds in 1980, along with other championships to follow. Attended Worlds with the Port Moody Pipe Band in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2009 & 2010 (grade 2 level). Choosing music to perform is a collaborative effort amongst the band. The lead drummer creates the score, and players will create harmonies. Angus discusses the variety among bagpiping tunes, and predicts the bass section will increase in future bands. Medleys may go longer, and the format of championships may change. Wife: Judith (Judy) Patricia Taylor, born in Vancouver Sept 24, 1954. Went as a juvenile representative of the BC Pipers Association to the Montreal Expo and in Halifax. Member of Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band. American/English father, Scottish mother. Started bagpiping and Highland dancing at a very early age. Joined the Vancouver Ladies' Pipe Band at age 9. She progressed to the Senior Amateur level and won the World Championships in 1983 with the VLPB. She met Angus at the Vancouver Ladies Winter Recital in 1968. Married in 1974. She had won awards long before Angus. Last played in the New Westminster Highland Games before her first child was born. Her Scottish grandparents: Mother's father (last name Patterson) from Jemimaville, Black Isle, Mother's mother (maiden name MacArthur) from Carloway. Children: Neil, born 1984 and Kathryn (Katie) born in 1986. Neil started playing bagpipes at age 10 with Robert Malcolm Pipe Band. Went to Scotland in grade 3 & grade 2 competitions. Then joined the Port Moody Pipe Band, and stayed until 2005. Katie also went through the ranks of Robert Malcolm, and moved on to Port Moody. Was in Highland dance from age 7 on, before giving it up for tenor drumming. Neil won a silver medal in Piobaireachd in Kansas. He always wanted to play with a band in Scotland, but Angus convinced him that the local Simon Fraser University Pipe Band was impressive in itself, and both Neil and Katie became members. They've attended Highland Games with Angus since they were born. Neil often went golfing and watched European FC Qualifying matches with his grandfather Macpherson, and played soccer growing up. Angus is set to retire and settle in Powell River, but is unsure if he will retire from piping. He describes the difference in level of commitment between Grade 1 & 2 pipe bands. He discusses the origin of the BCPA's "knock-out" competitions, started by Donald Ross around 1971, and the early days of the BCPA. There were trios and drumming "knock-outs", and it served a chance to get out in the off-season. Many bands now have members come in from around the world. He plays the New Westminster Remembrance Day service. Angus served as President for the BC Piper's Association for several years. He was the youngest member of the Board when he first joined, around 1972. He held the Annual Gathering at Vancouver Technical School. Also on the Board of the Western Pipe Band Association for 5-6 years. He had the chance to meet many notable pipers, such as Jim Burgess. He is a big fan of newer Celtic bands. Angus keeps up with the politics in Scotland to a degree, such as the rise of the Scottish Nationalist Party. He has always retained strong feelings of "Scottishness". He enjoys haggis and mashed "nips" (turnips), his wife always makes shortbread. His mother made huge Scottish breakfasts. He is fascinated by Scottish transportation (buses and ships).