In 2001 we received a call from a couple in Somerset regarding an old set of bagpipes they wanted to sell.

The pipes had been passed down through the family for a number of generations and had belonged to their ancestor piper Finlay MacLeod who had won them at The Highland Society of London Competition in 1813.

We planned a trip down south west England with my old piping friend Pipe Major Roger Huth - Scots Guards Ret. So often with these trips Roger and I would find sadly the pipes can be in a terrible state, or not what you first expected to see.

However, after a journey down from London we were rather pleased to see that although they had spent years wrapped in 100 year old newspaper under a bed they were still in good antique condition.

We agreed a deal with the family and headed back up the A303. Stonehenge stone circle seemed like the perfect comfort stop. Sitting looking at the ancient stones Roger was itching to give the pipes a gentle blow. Although the bag was old and dry it did hold air and we decided a set of ezeedrone reeds may just bring them back to life for the first time in over 100 years. A couple of tunes later we knew we had something with true bagpipe history.

Back home the research and restoration began.

Malcolm MacGregor - Piper & Bagpipe Maker

Malcolm MacGregor was a piper of some ability and won prizes as early as 1802 when he was described as 'Malcolm MacGregor from Glasgow". Records indicate that he was living in London in 1810. He provided the Prize Pipe from 1812 - 1815.

At the 1812 competition Malcolm MacGregor had been voted a handsome premium of 10 guineas by the Highland Society of London, for essential improvements to the Great Highland Pipe following the development of a new pipe chanter with an added key. This was followed by an order for a prize pipe instead of Hugh Robertson of Edinburgh. He supplied the pipe from 1812-1815 charging £10 in 1815 against Robertson's £8. However, in 1816 Hugh Robertson was re-employed charging £7 - 7s

Piper Finlay Macleod - Fionnlaidh Piobaire

Finlay MacLeod was thought to have been born about 30th July 1764 in Kilmore, Inverness-shire ( although there are some questions about his date of birth due to unclear records ) His father was a shepherd in Glenmoriston.

Finlay MacLeod army records show he joined the Fraser Fencibles upon the raising of the regiment by Colonel Simon Fraser 1st December 1794 - 1st June 1796.

Fraser Fencibles (1794)

In consequence of the advanced age of Archibald Fraser the chief of the Clan Fraser, (youngest son of the last Lord Lovat, and brother General Simon Fraser(1726–1782)) James Fraser of Belladrum, who had served under his chief in Canada during the Seven Years' War, was appointed to raise this regiment. It was completed in the spring of 1795, and was inspected and embodied at Inverness on 14 June same year. 300 of the men bore the name of Fraser, chiefly from the Aird and Stratherrick. With the exception of 30 Scottish Lowlanders, and 18 English and Irish, who had formerly served in the army, the rest of the corps were from the countries in the neighbourhood of these districts.

The regiment was ordered to Ireland, where it arrived on 1 August 1795. In November 1797, Simon Fraser, the younger of Lovat, was appointed colonel, in consequence of the resignation of Belladrum. The Fraser Fencibles at the battle of Castlebar, and had the other corps behaved like them on that occasion the result would have been different. They were the last to retreat.  A Highland Fraser sentinel was desired by his friends "to retreat with them, but he heroically refused to quit his post, which was elevated, with some little steps leading to it. He loaded and fired five times successively, and killed a Frenchman at every shot; but before he could charge a sixth time, they rushed on him, [and] beat out his brains". During this trying service the Fraser Fencibles conducted themselves with great propriety.

Follow service with the Fraser Fencibles Finlay is thought to have served with an unknown Canadian Fencible unit. Note: a Donald McLeod aged 34 also born Kilmore, Inverness-shire is listed above Finlay in the “Canada, British Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900” book for those in “79th Foot Soldiers, 1st Battalion 1809-1816” - Possibly his younger brother?

Finlay went on to serve with the 79th Cameron Highlanders 15th August 1807 - 24th April 1816. Finlay was wounded in action during the Peninsular War. He ws discharged by the army surgeon 24th April 1816. On discharge he was listed as aged about 52 years, height 5' 10", Brown hair & blue eyes having served 8 years & 254 days as well as in other corps.

Post Military Service

Upon his discharge he returned to Glen Moriston were he became piper to Laird Grant of Glen Moriston, taking a small holding upon the estate.

Findlay preferred piping to farming, and the story goes that one day, when the steading of his croft caught fire, his reaction was to take up his pipe and play “ Cille Chriosd ” ( Glengarry’s March ) as his barn blazed. It was a most appropriate choice as the tune is said to commemorate the burning of the church near the Muir of Ord by Glengarry MacDonald’s in the course of a reprisal raid.

Finlay was known as “ Fionnlaidh Piobaire “ and, although said to be “ tinker taught”. He nevertheless won the Highland Society of London Piobaireachd Prize Pipe in 1813, playing “ The Cameron's Gathering “ now known as “ Black Donald's March “. A man of great personality, he was described as one of the best players of his time, whose knowledge of piobaireachd and its history was unequaled. The tune he played was ‘Black Donald Balloch of the Isles March to the First Battle at Inverlochy 1427’ now shortened to ‘Piobaireachd of Donald Duibh’ or ‘Black Donald’s March’.

Finlay died in 1842 Invermoriston. Listed as age: 78 ( although dates suggest he may have been 79 years old ).

At Invermoriston within the burial ground by Loch Ness, the remnants of various stones have been mounted into a wall. THIS PLACE BELONGS TO FINLAY MC. LEOD PIPER GLENMORESTON WHO DIED IN 1842 AGED 70 ( actually thought to read 78 ). HIS WIFE CATHERINE. MCDONALD DIED. 27 JANUARY 1859. AGED 86 AND. THEIR CHILDREN. PETER MACLEOD.

The 1841 census says Finlay was 77 so if he died in 1842, he was 78.

The Finlay Macleod Bagpipe PIPE MAJOR ROGER HUTH - HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON Recital 2001

To bring the pipes back to public attention The Highland Society of London requested that the restored pipes be played in a recital by Pipe Major Roger Huth. Roger was of course very happy to oblige. The old settings for Black Donald's March piobaireachd came back to life in Finlay’s prize pipes.