Writing to the Piping Times in 1969, F. C. MacColl Botly, a man in charge of a number of English competitions, said: “Women pipers can, in their own field, be quite competent and a pleasure to listen to, but there is no common ground with men.”
Some argued that a lady should strive for elegance and that playing the instrument would only make her look ugly.
Others saw a woman wearing the traditional bagpiper’s attire as a caricature of male musicians.
Women pipers can, in their own field, be quite competent and a pleasure to listen to, but there is no common ground with men.”
– F.C. MacColl Botly, to the Piping Times in 1969.
Nevertheless, our very own Ladies’ Pipe Bands kept proudly playing. See pictures of their performances below:
1973 – Deeside Ladies Pipe Band members playing outside the Tree Tops Hotel in Aberdeen.
1986 – Deeside Ladies Pipe Band with the Black Memorial Trophy they won at the European Championships in Stranraer.
1980 – Young Craig Gillan with Heatherdale Ladies Pipe Band’s Lesley McIntosh and Angela Gibson.
1979 – Aberdeen Ladies Pipe Band mascot Nicola Mathieson, takes centre stage.
1978 – Bon-Accord Ladies Pipe Band’s Donna Hendry, left, and Marie Handsley at Oldmeldrum Sports.
1978 – Deeside Ladies Pipe Band members who beat 23 men’s teams to lift the Glen Douglas trophy.
1986 – Deeside Ladies became champion of champions in Grade 3 and won all five major championships.
1969 – The dancers of Bon Accord Ladies Pipe Band put on a show in Meadow Place, Tillydrone.
1988 – Kathryne Collie of Bon Accord Ladies Pipe Band plays a lament as the band seeks male members.
1986 – The Marchioness of Aberdeen hands Deeside Ladies’ Fiona Cruickshank the Grade 2 salver.
1960 – Ken Scott and his band harmonise with the Bon Accord Ladies at the Palace Ballroom.
1979 – Deeside Ladies Pipe Band members are all keyed up for their latest competition.
1970 – Deeside Ladies Pipe Band fresh from winning the women’s section at the World Championships.
The Aberdonian: Ladies’ pipe bands through the years
