(Held at the Army School of Bagpipe Music & Highland Drumming, Inchdrewer House, 19th November 2023 1100 hours)
In attendance: Colin MacLellan (Chair), Bill Wotherspoon, Roger Huth, Peter Hunt, Ronnie McShannon, Euan Anderson, Robert Barnes, Bruce Hitching, Lewis Barclay, Tom Johnstone, Alan Forbes, Patricia Henderson, Murray Henderson, Logan Tannock, Roddy Livingstone (secretary)
Apologies for absence: Michael Grey, Michael Cusack, Allan MacDonald, Angus MacDonald, Hugh Jamieson, Richard Parkes, Patrick Grant, James Bell, Kenny MacLeod, Jack Taylor, Jim McGillivray, Willie Morrison, Moira Robertson, John Don MacKenzie, Barry Donaldson, Ian McLellan, Tom Speirs, Derek Fraser, John Wilson
- Apologies for Absence
See above. - Minutes of 2022 AGM
The chairman briefly summarised the minutes of the 2022 meeting (these having been circulated in advance of the meeting) highlighting a further successful period for the Solo Piping Judges Association with considerable progress against objectives achieved in the last year.
The minutes were proposed by Logan Tannock and seconded by Bruce Hitchings and accepted by the meeting as an accurate record of the 2022 Annual General Meeting. - Matters Arising
None - Chairman’s Report
A report prepared by the Chairman, Colin MacLellan, had been circulated in advance of the meeting. Once again, Colin briefly summarised the important points including the welcome return of face to face meetings today; the retirement of several judges (Malcom McRae, Stuart Samson, Jimmy Hamilton and Neill Mulvie) and the sad passing of former President, Andrew Wright, a few days after last year’s AGM. He welcomed new additions to the SPJA register – Moira Roberston, Andrew Berthoff and Michael Cusack.
Colin also indicated that after 6 years he has decided to stand down as Chair of the SPJA.
The meeting thanked Colin for his dedicated and exemplary service and a suitable gift was presented by the Association as a mark of appreciation. - Treasurer’s Report
Once again, a summary of the financial situation of the association had been circulated in advance of the meeting. Treasurer Euan Anderson summarised the current healthy financial position and noted that further expenditure will be required on the development of a new website following Colin’s decision to step down [until now, the website has kindly been hosted by Colin – at minimal cost to the Association – in parallel with his own business website].
Murray Henderson reported that the Association’s £150 contribution towards a gift for Liz & Derek Maxwell as a mark of gratitude for their contribution to solo piping over a forty-year period had resulted in a total of almost £3000 being raised. The Association recorded its thanks to Murray (along with William McCallum and Roderick MacLeod) for taking the initiative to recognise Liz and Derek in a tangible way.
The Treasurer’s report was proposed by Lewis Barclayand seconded by Alan Forbes. - Election of Officers
The chair was temporarily assumed by Alan Forbes to oversee the election of officers and committee members as required by the Association’s constitution.
With the decision of Colin MacLellan to retire as Chair and not to seek re-election, Colin proposed Bruce Hitchings for this role. The nomination was seconded by Roddy Livingstone. Bruce was elected unanimously. In response, Bruce made a brief statement thanking the Association and noting the position of strength the SPJA had achieved under Colin’s leadership.
The Secretary, Roddy Livingstone, indicated he was prepared to stand for a further twelve month period of tenure. He was proposed by Logan Tannock, seconded by Roger Huth and elected unanimously.
The Treasurer, Euan Anderson, also indicated he was willing to stand once more for a further term and was proposed by Ronnie McShannon, seconded by Peter Hunt and elected unanimously.
Alan noted that none of the other committee members were due to retire by rotation on this occasion.
The Association records it’s thanks to Alan for undertaking this important role with, efficiency, professionalism and impartiality.
Colin MacLellan invited Bruce Hitchings to take over as Chair of the meeting. Bruce agreed to jointly preside over the remaining agenda items requesting that Colin continued to lead on items with which he was familiar. - Review of 2023 Solo Piping Season
This was an ‘open’ session for members to note any particular successes or learning from the 2023 season which prompted positive discussion and wide engagement. It was generally considered that 2023 had been a very successful year (again) although the numbers of competitors in some events was beginning to cause concerns. Particular examples cited included:
- Killin Games – insufficiency of judges led to one bench – after a very full day – being requested to judge a jig competition with a large number of competitors.
- Blair Atholl Games – ungraded light music events meaning that competitors are split into three heats (apparently at random) but this still means that officiating judges are facing a large number of performances to assess.
- The Gillies Cup (London) – had all pipers who entered actually played, judges taken a full hour for lunch and taken breaks (as agreed with competition organisers via the JCSPC), this event would have taken some sixteen hours to complete.
- Pre-selection of tunes – there needs to be a consistent methodology applied to replicate what would happen ‘live’ as far as possible (potential guidance to be issued to competition organisers).
- Senior Events at major competitions – the “right” to play because of historic success – this currently just manageable but only because of withdrawals etc. It was observed that we may be in a transitionary period and it is too early to decide if revision necessary.
- Set Tune events at Oban/Inverness – competitors are required to notify intention to play alternative settings when submitting tunes but either they are not doing so or this information is not being effectively relayed to judges.
- It was noted that a letter had been received by the Association from Malcolm McRae expressing concerns regarding the facilities at Oban Games (inability to effectively hear performances due to logistics) and the falling standard of hospitality afforded to adjudicators.
- Various suggestions to mitigate the numbers of competitors were discussed and it was agreed that further discussions would be initiated via the JCSPC (annual meeting scheduled for 26th November 2023) and through direct liaison with the Competing Pipers Association.
- Promotion of the CPA Supplementary Judges List by the SPJA
Colin MacLellan reiterated the background to this item. The CPA has maintained a list of ‘Supplementary Judges’ available to adjudicate events up to CPA B Grade for some twenty years although this resource has never been widely used. Previously, qualification for inclusion on this list required that actively competing pipers held ‘Premier’ grading in both piobaireachd and light music. A review has been undertaken by the CPA and revised this requirement so that:- Membership of the Supplementary List is only open to paid up CPA members.
- The requirement for inclusion is amended to ‘Premier’ only in the discipline in which they will be asked to officiate.
- A revised list has been produced by the CPA which the SPJA has offered to promote to share the availability of these individuals with competition organisers through inclusion (as a discrete list) on the Association’s website. The expectation of the Association is that Supplementary judges will:
- Adhere to the SPJA Code of Conduct (which is broadly reflective of the CPA’s own CoC).
- Continue to restrict judging activity to events graded B and below by the Competing Pipers Association (to avoid peer adjudication).
- Avail themselves of continuing professional development opportunities offered by the SPJA (e.g. attendance at SPJA seminars, participation in the SPJA Mentoring Programme).
- A proposal was made to include the Supplementary List on the Association’s website subject to the above conditions and supported unanimously by those present at the meeting.
- Next steps: The Chair / Secretary will liaise with officers of the CPA to facilitate.
- Changes to the Judges List
Already detailed in the report of the Chair. - Joint Committee for Solo Piping Competitions
The Secretary reminded members that the JCSPC is a forum for competition organisers, competitors and judges to discuss matters of common interest, meeting annually (this year on 26th November) and any matters which may be appropriate to raise through this forum (in addition to those recorded at 7 above) to be notified to him ASAP. - Any Other Competent Business
- Alan Forbes informed the meeting that Piobaireachd Society had held a successful ‘set tunes’ seminar with 18 judges attending in April. He also mentioned the Music Committee of the Piobaireachd Society had co-opted two new members – Jack Lee and Mike Cusack and that the Talk Piobaireachd Zoom sessions would be held again over the winter of 2023/24 to promote discussion of the 2024 set tunes.
- The need for revision of the Association’s website was briefly discussed (see Treasurer’s report above) and it was agreed that necessary changes and expenditure would be delegated to the committee.
- Bruce Hitchings noted that he now divides his place of residence between Scotland and the USA but is always available for contact – email probably being the best medium in the first instance.
- The Secretary recorded his thanks to Major Gordon Rowan and the staff of the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming for once again generously allowing the facilities at Inchdrewer House to be made available to the SPJA and providing hospitality and support.
The meeting closed at 1237 hours.
Roddy Livingstone
Honorary Secretary
The Solo Piping Judges Association