Graham Jamieson
By Murdo McLeod
This month we feature Graham Jamieson as part of our special sketches marking the ten years existence of Livingston A&F Club.
Born in Pumpherston 17 years ago to Margaret and Bobby Jamieson, Graham took an early interest in drumming when he joined the local pipe band – the Livingston and Pumpherston Pipe Band. His tutors were Harry Mitchell Snr and then Harry Mitchell Jnr and young Graham, with his colleagues in the drum corps, did such an excellent job that the band scored a unique double at Cowal Games in 1982 in winning the drumming section and the Pipe Band Championships and, indeed, in that notable year the band scooped all the main honours to collect the grand prize – Champion of Champions. They also, of course, won Grade III at the World championships in that year.
Graham has been associated with our Club since he played in January, 1978, along with young Derek and father John Rae. The report in the ‘B&F’ of that month predicted a rosy future for the 12-year-old who made such an impression that cold night in Mid-Calder Masonic Hall.
In 1979 he got his chance with the well-known Strathalmond SDB, which included two broadcasts – and played with two other broadcasting bands Grace McCleaver and Ian Anderson, for another two broadcasts. Not bad for a lad still in his early teens.
In recent months young Graham’s career has taken another turn in joining Iain MacPhail’s Band which will soon be featured on STV’s Gaelic programme ‘Sounds Gaelic.’
Notable events in Graham’s musical career included three trips to Inter-Celtic Festivals in France when he joined Angus Cameron to Lorrient and Maureen Rutherford and George Carmichael to Quimper. A good time was had by all!!
Asked who he looks to for inspiration, he gave the reply “Barra Dean, jazz drummer with the late Louis Armstrong and then nearer home to our own Gus Millar, Billy Thom and Max Ketchin” – impeccable taste one would have thought.
Here than is another of the talented youngsters who cut their teeth on our local scene, moving stradily ahead in the field of Scottish music.
We hope he continues to give us a little of his time at the Club in the years ahead. His friends there and elsewhere wish him all the best in the future.
PS – In the past year Graham is the third musician with strong Oakbank connections to feature in this column. I wonder what is in the Oakbank air?
Box and Fiddle
December 1983
Born in Pumpherston 17 years ago to Margaret and Bobby Jamieson, Graham took an early interest in drumming when he joined the local pipe band – the Livingston and Pumpherston Pipe Band. His tutors were Harry Mitchell Snr and then Harry Mitchell Jnr and young Graham, with his colleagues in the drum corps, did such an excellent job that the band scored a unique double at Cowal Games in 1982 in winning the drumming section and the Pipe Band Championships and, indeed, in that notable year the band scooped all the main honours to collect the grand prize – Champion of Champions. They also, of course, won Grade III at the World championships in that year.
Graham has been associated with our Club since he played in January, 1978, along with young Derek and father John Rae. The report in the ‘B&F’ of that month predicted a rosy future for the 12-year-old who made such an impression that cold night in Mid-Calder Masonic Hall.
In 1979 he got his chance with the well-known Strathalmond SDB, which included two broadcasts – and played with two other broadcasting bands Grace McCleaver and Ian Anderson, for another two broadcasts. Not bad for a lad still in his early teens.
In recent months young Graham’s career has taken another turn in joining Iain MacPhail’s Band which will soon be featured on STV’s Gaelic programme ‘Sounds Gaelic.’
Notable events in Graham’s musical career included three trips to Inter-Celtic Festivals in France when he joined Angus Cameron to Lorrient and Maureen Rutherford and George Carmichael to Quimper. A good time was had by all!!
Asked who he looks to for inspiration, he gave the reply “Barra Dean, jazz drummer with the late Louis Armstrong and then nearer home to our own Gus Millar, Billy Thom and Max Ketchin” – impeccable taste one would have thought.
Here than is another of the talented youngsters who cut their teeth on our local scene, moving stradily ahead in the field of Scottish music.
We hope he continues to give us a little of his time at the Club in the years ahead. His friends there and elsewhere wish him all the best in the future.
PS – In the past year Graham is the third musician with strong Oakbank connections to feature in this column. I wonder what is in the Oakbank air?
Box and Fiddle
December 1983