Bagpiper
01-07-2009, 04:18 PM
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Corporal Ally MacDonald, originally from Altnaharra and now stationed at RAF Lossiemouth, entered this year’s championships as a soloist and came away as the RAF solo champion piper 2008. The award is given to the individual with the best combined score from the open march, strathspey and reel section and the open piobaireachd.
This was the first time Ally (36) had entered the contest, even though he has been in the RAF for eight years and has played the pipes since he was a child. He began learning the pipes aged about eight whilst attending Altnaharra Primary School and then Golspie High School. He was taught by the late Charlie O’Brien, ex-5th Seaforth Highlanders’ Pipe Major. Ally moved to Caithness in 1993 and joined the RAF in 2000. Corporal MacDonald now lives in Lossiemouth with his wife and three children.
Of his success at the championships, he said: “I haven’t entered any championships for a few years as I haven’t really had the time. But this year I was able to, and coming away as the solo champion piper was a surprise.”
Ally is the RAF’s top solo piper - Northern Times (http://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5154/Ally_is_the_RAF_s_top_solo_piper.html).
More... (http://www.bagpipenews.com/bagpipes/2008/12/05/ally-is-the-rafs-top-solo-piper-northern-times/)
Corporal Ally MacDonald, originally from Altnaharra and now stationed at RAF Lossiemouth, entered this year’s championships as a soloist and came away as the RAF solo champion piper 2008. The award is given to the individual with the best combined score from the open march, strathspey and reel section and the open piobaireachd.
This was the first time Ally (36) had entered the contest, even though he has been in the RAF for eight years and has played the pipes since he was a child. He began learning the pipes aged about eight whilst attending Altnaharra Primary School and then Golspie High School. He was taught by the late Charlie O’Brien, ex-5th Seaforth Highlanders’ Pipe Major. Ally moved to Caithness in 1993 and joined the RAF in 2000. Corporal MacDonald now lives in Lossiemouth with his wife and three children.
Of his success at the championships, he said: “I haven’t entered any championships for a few years as I haven’t really had the time. But this year I was able to, and coming away as the solo champion piper was a surprise.”
Ally is the RAF’s top solo piper - Northern Times (http://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5154/Ally_is_the_RAF_s_top_solo_piper.html).
More... (http://www.bagpipenews.com/bagpipes/2008/12/05/ally-is-the-rafs-top-solo-piper-northern-times/)