Willie’s children Eileen and Alastair, advise me that his funeral will take place at Cardross Crematorium on Friday 16th Sept 2022 at 2.15pm, with refreshments afterwards at the Cardross Inn.
Family and friends are all welcome at both places.
They realise that for some it will not be possible to attend in person and they warmly invite them to join in spirit by using the following Live Stream link on Friday afternoon:
Sorry to say that Willie McDonald (95) passed away on 7th September 2022, the day before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Willie at the 214 BB Reunion in 2013
His daughter Eileen advises:
“It’s with bittersweet sadness that I have to tell you and the ex members of the 214 that our father, William McDonald, beat the Queen by one day, slipping away peacefully to be reunited with the other Two Amigos early on 7 Sept 2022.”
‘The Three Amigos’
“He was in the Royal Alexandra in Paisley following a bad fall on 2 Sept, which seemingly put strain on his heart. Thankfully, my brother Alastair was over from Germany to give me a break, so Dad saw his son in his last few days and I came back to be with him too.”
“The Pipe Tunes of Alex McIver” still sits on the table beside his armchair, having been looked through many times.
“I frequently found him engrossed in it when I came into the living room. Thank you once again, Hector, for presenting him with his signed first edition.”
“It will remain a treasured memento in the family.”
“Once we have funeral arrangements in place, we will, of course, let you and the ex-members know.”
With best wishes
Eileen McDonald
I’m sure all Ex Members will join me in sending our condolences to the family at this time.
Willie a piper had played in Pipe Bands all of his life, including Rutherglen (along with Alex MacIver and Gus McDonald), Helensburgh & Clan Colquhoun Pipe Bands. He was also a regular attender of the Piping Club in Glasgow.
Willie featured in one of our Articles ‘214 Boys at War’. (Click here to view)
On the eve of the 2022 World Championships in Glasgow, the band has announced that Leading Drummer Gordon Brown is to retire after over 30 years service to the organisation.
Kerr McQuillan son of the 214BB Ex Members Treasurer (Stephen) has been announced as Gordon’s successor.
I’m sure the Ex Members will all remember Kerr after playing at a few of our Annual Reunions.
Gordon Brown & Kerr McQuillan at the Scottish Championship in Dumbarton 30th July 2022
On his new appointment, Kerr said:
Becoming the leading drummer of Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band has always been my dream. It is an opportunity that I am hugely excited for and I’m confident that the team we have across the entire Boghall organisation has the potential to achieve great things. I can’t wait to get started working with such a musically talented group where we all share the same drive and ambitions.
Kerr has big ‘Ghillie Brogues’ to fill as he takes over the role, following on from Gordon and his father Tom Brown MBE, two legends in pipe band drumming.
Brian Gilda the Chairman and MD of Peoples Ford summed it up well by saying:
The baton once more gets passed, in this instance to young Kerr, a long standing Band member and a prodigy of Gordon. His age probably belies his talent and musical skills but as one famous football manager once said if he’s good enough age doesn’t matter.
I am sure all Ex Members wish Kerr & the Band all the success for the future.
I can confirm that Gordon’s funeral is to be held at Linn Crematorium on
Thursday 7th July at 1pm.
I’m sure the family (and Gordon as an Ex Company Captain), would be very grateful to have as many Ex-Members as possible who are available to attend.
(36) 214th Pipe Band c1957 – St Andrews Halls – Lewis and Harris Concert Front row: Alex M MacIver, Charlie Grindley, Gordon Ferguson, Alex Rae, Gordon MacIntyre. Rear: Robert Wallace, Lawson Callaghan, John MacDougall, George Robertson, Andy Hosie, Robin Hunter, Joe Noble, Jim Hamilton, Frank Hopson, Hughie Davidson
Gordon can be seen in this photo (no(36) on website) on far right.
I am sorry to advise that Gordon MacIntyre (82) passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning yesterday, Sunday 26th June 2022. Gordon had been in hospital after a long illness.
Gordon served the 214BB as both boy and man, holding the Captaincy in 1961-1963, after Bob Ferguson.
Captain Gordon MacIntyre Ex Members Reunion 2009
Always the 214 stalwart Gordon was always willing to help in any way he could.
He also served as a Committee member and Treasurer of the Ex Members Association for a great number of years.
We all send our condolences to his wife of 57 years, Margaret (nee Burns, who was also a ‘Gordon Parker’) and the rest of the family at this sad time.
Sorry to say that Finlay Drynan passed away on Friday 6th May 2022.
Don Glass our Chairman, who was Finlay’s best man at his and Isobel’s wedding, advises he hadn’t been too well lately and reckons he would have been 73 or 74.
214 Band Dumfries 1963 – Alex MacIver, Malky MacKenzie, Alastair Ross, Jim Marshall, Don Glass, Willie Law, Kenny Cape, Tommy Yeoman, Gordon Medlow, Dougy Elmslie, Finlay Drynan & Stuart Hunter
Finlay’s funeral is to be held at 2.30pm on Monday the 23rd May 2022 at Dalnottar.
Thereafter at Willowbank Bowling Club just off Byres Road.
Finlay and Isobel were ex members of The Glasgow Hebridean Choir and sang at many a Mod over the years.
I in fact remember being on a Choir trip with them to the Isle of Man, back in the late eighties early nineties.
Finlay singing on the Mod program on tv when they won the Men’s competition.
Everyone we have an email for should have received an invitation to this years Annual Reunion which will be held on Friday 11th March 2022.
Those who have replied we Thank You.
Can I please remind those that have not replied to get back to us asap, as this affects the number of letters that we have to post out to the membership.
