Whatever the occasion, those of us who have heard the mellow tones of ‘Amazing Grace’ majestically played on the bagpipes have always taken notice and enjoyed every moment of this longstanding and magnificent musical salute. The magic sounds of those traditional Scottish Bagpipes played by the pipers in their colorful family kilts and tartans have had a long and colorful history that will be forever enshrined with proud legend.
Although the Greeks and Romans spoke of having a similar instrument over 2000 years ago, the first mention of the classic bagpipes was of the Clan Menzies in Scotland, who claimed to own a set of the original pipes that were carried into the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Whatever the case, the bagpipes firmly found their footing in Scotland in the 1700s, and this is where the different types of the instrument began to appear, some smaller than the original great Highland Pipes. The Border and the North Humbrian Pipes fell into this category, and differed by way of not using a mouthpiece, but a bellows. The Bagpipe differs from the majority of wind instruments in that while blown, the air is not directly progressed across the reeds, but inflates the bag, which is compressed to send the air across the reeds to make those most unique and unforgettable sounds.
The amazing and traditional chants of this wonderful instrument will always be remembered in history as those colorful pipers led rugged armies throughout the world into battle, as well as for their ongoing presence and splendour in countless ceremonial and traditional occasions that proudly carry on and serve to this day.
Dick Cameron started piping at the age of 50
Dick Cameron was born in Edmonton in 1940, attended a dozen schools in his youthful years, and then finally settled in Ponoka in the summer of 1976, where he married his wife Sylvia and have raised their family and lived in the same home for 49 years. His father, Murdock William Cameron, owned a second-hand shop in Rimbey, became a master at playing the violin, banjo and guitar, and later surprised his son with the gift of a set of bagpipes under the Christmas tree. It would be in 1990 at the age of 50 that Dick decided to take up piping seriously, and took lessons from Frank Neelands, the Pipe Major of the Red Deer Legion Pipe Band, of which Dick has been an active member for many years.
Along the way, Mr. Cameron was employed with Pan Arctic Oils from 1970 to 1987, starting as a radio operator and advancing into the positions of chief radio operator and communications supervisor. Upon returning to his favourite home town of Ponoka, Dick worked from 1987 to 1997 as a guard/ dispatcher for the Ponoka Royal Canadian Mounted Police Detachment, and then from 1997 until 2005, in purchasing and Inventory on the front desk of Almita Manufacturing in the west Ponoka Industrial Park, after which he retired.
In 1990 Dick joined the Masonic Lodge and served as the DDGM in 2012, and was also very active throughout the community as a member of the Ponoka Burns’ Club and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #66. His skills as a piper have also given Dick the opportunity to join his mates and travel throughout Canada and beyond, including a trip to the Scotland World Bagpipe Competition in 2004 and in 2007 to Nova Scotia, where he won a third place in the Grade IV section at the Halifax Highland Games. The great fun and fellowship of the pipers and their music has allowed Dick to compete and attend the Highland Games in Red Deer, Ellerslie, Calgary, Edmonton and Canmore over the years. He has always been extremely proud to wear the kilts and colors of the Cameron Clan of Scotland 6 to 7 generations removed, has marched and piped in at least 10 parades with the bright red Shriners Fire Truck and Ensemble, and as a 30-year member of the Widow Sons Motorcycle Association has travelled many happy miles on his 800cc Suzuki Boulevard.
At the age of 75, Dick Cameron and his wife Sylvia are certainly quite busy enjoying their retirement in and around Ponoka, which includes quality time with their three children Tad, Cindy, and Candy and five grandchildren, as well as lots of walking, meeting old and new friends, and of course attending many functions to share his extreme love and skills of playing the bagpipes. Along with leading the color party at year round special events for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #66 Ponoka, Dick is also called on many times to play his bagpipes at countless functions and ceremonies such as weddings, birthdays, funerals and much more here in his home town and throughout Alberta and British Columbia. Thank you, Dick, for your dedication to the proud traditions and history of the bagpipes, and for sharing your tones and your talents with so many others along the way.