Hello Ida, can't help much, I'm afraid. However; 1. the MacArthurs are an extremely famous piping family. They appeared in Mull, Skye and also on the mainland and a branch of them were hereditary pipers to the MacDonalds. VERY famous. Your one isn't listed amongst my records there. 2. the reference to the 'Queens Band' has me stumped. In that era, before civilian pipe bands had been thought of, a 'band of pipers' was usually three or more. It was customary for the lairds to employ pipers to work their estate and then in the summer months they would also entertain the guests at dinner parties and the like, and play in 'the band' if they had a few like the big ones such as the Earl of Breadalbane had. In the 1840s Queen Victoria first expressed her interest in pipers and recruited Angus MacKay (very famous) as her head piper. However, she also used other pipers on her estate at Balmoral. But other than that there was nothing called the 'Queens band'. Hope this helps a wee bit. regards Bruce Campbell >From: Ida & Merle King <m_iking@telusplanet.net> >To: fingalsweeping@hotmail.com >Subject: Mull Pipers ? >Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 16:11:50 -0700 > >Hi Bruce > >I hope you don't mind the intrusion here..It probably has nothing to do >with your recent posting. When you mention pipers it peeked my interest >though. > >I was once told that one of my ancestors James McArthur b Apr 21 1806 in >Tirergain/Tir Fheargain (sp), Kilfinchen parish, Isle of Mull, s/o John >& Mary (McPhee) played the bag pipes in the Queens Band. The story goes >on to say that when James McArthur came to Canada in Jun 1849 that he >had to sell his bagpipes in Toronto. To help his family start a new life >here..The person died shortly after she sent this information. So my >hope is maybe you'll have some knowledge of him. > >Respectfully >Ida > >Subject: Re: [ARGYLL] Argyllshire Gathering/Oban Games > Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 11:04:01 +0000 > From: "Bruce Campbell" <fingalsweeping@hotmail.com> > To: SCT-ARGYLL-L@rootsweb.com > >Hi Sheila, >they have a web site at www.obangames.com >The last time I looked it didn't have any dancing but has the list of >winners of the Piobaireachd Gold Medal. >Your Cameron was a famous piper, as well as a dancer. Most of the >dancers of >that period were also pipers, women of course were not allowed to >compete. >There were a few Alex Camerons, the one you are looking for is Alick >Cameron, sometimes called Sandy, sometimes Alex or Alexander. George >McLennan wrote a great tune for him called Alick Cameron, Champion >Piper. > _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail now available on Australian mobile phones. Go to http://ninemsn.com.au/mobilecentral/hotmail_mobile.asp