They are:
Major Archie Cairns is a world-renowned Pipe Major, judge, instructor, director and composer. He was a soloist at the Queen's Coronation Ball. In 1966 he won the North American championship. He was only the fourth person in the world to receive the diploma of piping and senior teacher's certificate from the Institute of Piping in Britain. He was the first North American to be appointed by the Piobaireachd Society in Scotland to its judges panel. He was the first Regular Force musician to receive the OMM and I believe at the time of his retirement he had five clasps to his CD for a lifetime of service to his country. Thus was the standard of our teachers.
In the autumn of 1999 John Cairns became the 11th person ever and the first from outside Scotland to have won the Highland Society of London's Gold Medal in Piobaireachd at both the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban and the Northern Meeting in Inverness in the same year.
The work John and Archie did has been thrown away by people who know not what they do or talk about. The appointment of a military band musician as the national music program administrator was the final nail in the pipes and drums coffin. Empire building and politics has killed 20 years of outstanding work by two of the finest Pipers we ever had in this country! Thus was the standard of our teachers.
Teena paid attention to what the to the experts told her, and treated the pipes and drums as equals to the military bands. Teena even understood that pipers and drummers have their own time zone, and was given a watch to prove it!
After Don retired from the regular force he joined the Cadet Instructor's Cadre and started teaching cadet pipers with the CFB Chilliwack Cadet Corps. Don was the OC Pipes and Drums and OC Band Company at Vernon Army Cadet Camp for several years. He spent many of his weekends and holidays teaching cadets at workshops, clinics, and promoting the pipes and drums program. His efforts have produced many quality pipers and bands over the years.
Tog Orm Mo Piob!