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The Aberdonian: Ladies’ pipe bands through the years

1979 Aberdeen Ladies Pipe Band mascot
Nicola Mathieson, takes centre stage
1979 Aberdeen Ladies Pipe Band mascot Nicola Mathieson, takes centre stage

In this week’s edition of The Aberdonian we are celebrating north-east Ladies Pipe Bands – take a look at the bands through the years.

It comes as no surprise that back in the day, a woman playing the bagpipes could raise some eyebrows.

Whether women should or shouldn’t have been allowed to take part in competitions was the subject of heated debate at the time.

‘No common ground with men’

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.