Gordon Spiers

[Roger Huth]

In a reply to another topic, Andrew Berthoff neatly summed up the character of Gordon Spiers.
Gordon was my Pipe Major in 'The Blue Bonnets City of London Pipe Band' 1968/9 before he emigrated to America. Jimmy Finlater was our President and was himself a character of no small girth and enormous presence. On entering the band room Gordon once joked to him 'I never saw you there'.
Annoyed with the drummers playing while he tried to give out some detail Gordon told them 'All I can hear is Tic Tac Tow'. He told me off once for 'flapping' my feet during chanter practice.
It was Gordon that said his playing improved once he started learning piobaireachd and encouraged us to do the same. He had the entire band walk out of a restaurant once, telling the owner 'It's too dirty'. He took us to Cowal and it was just marvellous having him as Pipe Major. Not everyone took to him but we all did. What happened when he arrived in America then I wonder?

[Lyle Walker]

What happened when he arrived in America then I wonder?
He was my first piping instructor and as such, probably influenced me the most (with Ken Eller coming in a close 2nd). He also got me started on piobaireachd and competing with the same comments as you recall .

He lived in Kansas City to begin with and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was Pm of the Milwaukee and District PB. In his later life, he moved to Colorado where he died of brain cancer. That's the short version.

Man, I think I've got a hundred "Gordon" stories I could tell, as anyone that was around him could. The last time I saw him he was telling me that he was not going to undergo treatment for his cancer because the side effects would make him go deaf. As we were shaking hands, he told me that he'd had a good life and no regrets and to remember him that way. "And work on your piobaireachd!"
cheers,
Lyle Walker

[Edward Smith]

I remember Gordon well - he was a big influence on me when I was starting out and one of my favourite judges. He was a popular judge at the East Coast games in the States and was usually at Fair Hill, Delco, Alexandria and Ligonier during the mid-1970's. I remember him always ready with a tune at the ceilidhs.

At one point, he had a (double?) cornea transplant - the donor was a young motorcyclist. After the surgery, he said his vision was great ... but he couldn't help but stare at all the lovely 16 year old lassies. :wink:

[Roger Huth]

I have such good memories of Gordon and this is all adding to them. He certainly had his fair share of ops then. He had an op for a stomach ulcer and left the hospital via the fire escape to attend the band AGM. He also had a big fry up for breakfast after his op despite being warned he would certainly bring it all up again. To their surprise he didn't though. What a man. All stories gratefully recieved.
Thanks

[Jim McGillivray]

Originally posted by Edward Smith:

At one point, he had a (double?) cornea transplant - the donor was a young motorcyclist. After the surgery, he said his vision was great ... but he couldn't help but stare at all the lovely 16 year old lassies. :wink: I remember this. I hadn't seen Gordon for many years and was asked to judge somewhere in the mid-West. On the Friday night all the judges and organizers were invited to dinner. There were about a dozen people at a big round table, and I could see this fellow across the way who looked very familiar. I thought to myself, is that Gordon?? Finally I realized it was. He had gone totally blind during the course of a long plane trip some months before and had subsequently gotten the cornea transplant. It was quite strange and quite astonishing to see how radically a different pair of eyes will change someone's appearance.

Cheers,
Jim

[Andrew Berthoff]

I have many Gordon Speirs memories, but a few are at the top of the heap:

The first is of him absolutely lambasting someone at a weekend band workshop in St. Louis. His victim was used to sort of running the local scene, was well-intentioned, but just couldn't stand being upstaged by Gordon and challenged him once too often. Having had enough, in front of everyone, Gordon laid waste to him with a five-minute, blistering tirade about the fellow's true ability, until his victim finally slunk out the door, absolutely speechless. It perhaps wasn't very diplomatic, but it was pure Gordon.

Another memory is when I was 13 competing in the Grade 9 march at a contest in Chicago, I believe. Gordon had worked with me a bit, and "The Atholl Highlanders March to Loch Katrine" was the tune. Gordon heard me warming up before competing, heard my instrument, waved his hands for me to stop playing and said, "No, no, that just won't do." He went to get his MacDougall-Aberfeldy + Sinclair pipe, thrust it at me, and said, "Play these." It was my first (and some would say my last) taste of what a fine bagpipe should sound like.

My last memory of him was talking with him by phone just a few days before he died. We talked until he got too tired, and, even though we hadn't spoken for several years, his memory was crystal clear. He was still his funny and inspiring self, and couldn't resist a few humourous jabs at me and a few other pipers. Even though his end was near, he talked about walking out of the hospital, and getting back to playing a few tunes.

Definitely one of a kind.

Andrew Berthoff
Toronto

[Lyle Walker]

Another Gordon story: He was giving our band a weekend workshop and as we were returning from lunch I asked him what the difference was between a dirge and a lament. He looked at me and asked if I still played Glengarry's Lament. Yeah, I do...then he said, "Well, I play it as a lament, and you play it as a dirge." Ouch! :D When we got back to the practice hall, he got out his pc and we ran thru the ground a few times with him correcting a few things. A few months later at a competition, I finished up my tune and was walking away when I noticed Gordon standing there. He reached out to shake hands and said "Nice LAMENT." That comment made my whole weekend! :banana: (ps..I took a first that day and Gordon pointed out he would have given me a third because he wasn't satisfied with my crunluths yet.)
cheers,
l.walker

[Roger Huth]

This is all pure Gordon. Thanks for cheering the start of my day everyone. I'm sitting here laughing out loud to these stories. Wonderful. Thanks again.

[Roger Huth]

A bit more time to reply properly. I never realised that Gordon's health had taken such a battering. He seemed able to rise above anything, even his own health problems and staying focused and on target. I didn't know he was nearly blind as well before his cornea op. What a terrible waste to succumb to that dreadful fate, but what a brave face though. Similar to P/M Angus, rising above his own problems and staying sharp and with worthwhile things to say during his last days. The last time I saw Gordon was at the Glaziers in 1993/4 wearing his biscuit tweed jct & kilt. We shook hands but he never let on to me that he was here to say his goodbyes. It was Dave Cornish that he told who then passed the shocking news to me when Gordon had left. I used to know Gordon as being young with jet black hair in the late 1960's. All that had changed to me though was his hair colour. Thanks again for letting me know some of what he did after he left England.

[Lyle Walker]

Roger, you might want to check out the following : web page (http://www.pphighlanders.com/history.html)

They have a sound file of what may be Gordon's last tune..or at least one of his last...Jiggles.
It's a 2/4 that has double dotted and double cut notes and is almost jig'y sounding. (Willie Muirhead re-wrote it as a jig which I called JIGgles.) He had the band marching out of the circle playing that tune, and as they left the area, they'd turn sideways and take a couple of sideways steps before turning a marching off. The showmanship was pure Gordon.
cheers,
L. Walker

[Richard Mao]

Hi,

I never met the man... but at one of the many summer schools of piping I have attended...

in an exchange of neat tunes... I got a setting called:

Scotland Depraved, a reel setting of STB, arranged by Gordon.

It's a copy, of course, with his autograph dated 28 Jan '84 and a set of instructions:

"To be played while naked, wearing a freshly plucked feather bonnet, and the feet firmly planted in 7 inches of cold porridge."

what an image, what a sense of his humor... I would have dearly loved to have known the man

Remembrance of a friend who’s passed away is your greatest gift to his immortality. He lives here in our hearts as long as he is remembered.

Richard Mao, The Peking Piper ( PekingPiper@mao.org )

[Roger Huth]

Lyle reminds me of a time when we were at a competition. Gordon approached me and said "I want you to play in this event". I didn't compete solo at that time, but as I wasn't in the habit of arguing with Gordon, I duly added my name to the list. Despite some composing en route I surprisingly won the event. As I was standing there feeling chuffed Gordon walked towards me looking very pleased indeed. As I prepared myself for the praise about to be heaped upon me Gordon said "I wanted you to play so that he wouldn't win" and nodded towards the guy who came second.

Richard - What a shame you never met Gordon. I like the story.
Memories are a good substitute for what we can no longer have.
Thank you all once again and I have been onto the pphighlanders web site. Couldn't hear Jiggles though. Will have to try again.

[flyingpiper]

I never met Gordon Spiers, but am a "young" (okay 43 but only 2 years piping) piper with PPH. Shelley Wheelon, Gordon's widow, is our pipe major. I recently played a funeral with Shelley and my son at what turned out to be the hospice where Gordon spent his last days. As we were driving up the road, all of a sudden I could see a great change in Shelley's face as she came to realize the gig was at a place of great sadness for her.

She began to relate the story of his last days and then more importantly began to tell humorous stories.

Two examples I can remember: In London, Gordon was to play in the "Crystal Room" at an upscale hotel. He was to march in and play around the head table twice. The head waiter would crack a door (the room was completely mirrored - walls and ceilings) to indicate the exit. Unfortunately, the waiter did not show, Gordon piped around the table many times looking for an exit. Spotting a cracked door, he backed into - the linen closet where he stayed for over an hour waiting for the next playing time.

While the P/M of the Blue Bonnets a well known band hopping piper asked Gordon if he could join the band. According to Shelley, Gordon detested band hoppers. So when asked, Gordon replied: I'm sorry but there's a waiting list. The piper, not realizing the foot bearing upon his mouth asked: really, who's on the waiting list? Gordon's reply: just you.

David Hendrix
flyingpiper (ground school almost complete!)
PPH

[Roger Huth]

David
Thank you for your last. Classic Gordon. I am wracking my head to see if I can remember Shelley, but it is not happening. I must have left the BB before her arrival or something or just a mental block. Annoying. How many pipers would have waited that long in a linen cupboard to save the situation I wonder? A great put down for the hopper too :lol:
The band had about 5 mins to go on and Gordon announced: "All those wishing to use the toilet please do so now or forever hold" He left it to us to finish the sentence.

[flyingpiper]

Roger,

Thanks for being gracious to someone that never met Gordon but has heard many many stories of him from Shelley. Shelley married Gordon here in the states. One story I didn't hear until we made that drive was the story of his last breath. When she related that to me I really felt a loss.

I've heard a few stories from the pipers here, just like your "toilet" experience. It must have been fun as well as sometimes intimidating to have Gordon lead you into competition and performance.

One story that amazed me related to your stomach ulcer story. He had trouble with it later as well and either had a perforated stomach or intestine. Either way, back under the knife he went. At home post op with an incision from just below his rib cage to his lower abdomen he noticed that the incision had become grossly infected. To spare you the details, he spent the next 2 hours cleaning his own incision with remarks to Shelley like "look, if I squeeze my stomach muscles...".

Shelley took him to the doctor the next day, the doctor looked at the incision and asked: did you clean that? Yes, Gordon said. Amazed, the doctor said: well you did a great job, go home.

An amazing man.

David Hendrix
flyingpiper
PPH

[Lyle Walker]

remember Shelley, but it is not happening Probably you would remember his long time wife, Catriona. They divorced in the late 80's and Gordon moved to Denver. His son Ross, lives in Chicago and plays with a Chicago band. Catriona was (is?) a grd1/open player. I'm not sure if she is still playing. I heard thru the grapevine she is teaching a few students on the east coast.

cheers,
L.Walker

[Roger Huth]

Once Gordon accepted you, there was no feeling of being intimidated. More like being protected and under his wing while he lead from the front. He never backed away from trouble ever. He almost seemed to feed on it and grow in stature as a result. He deliberately upset a quite famous piper once who he didn't particularly get on with. In fact I think they hated each other. Gordon was judging the mini bands and when this Pipe Major's band came on Gordon actually entered into the circle while they were in the middle of the set and bent his ear to the chanters. He paused a long time at the Pipe Major's who's eyes were out on stalks. No Piping Judge had done this before or since I don't think. The band won anyway as they were top of the tree but Gordon smiled about this for a long time after.
Catriona I remember and she had cracking good fingers. I still remember being surprised that such crisp strength could come from a lady's fingers. Gob smacked actually. Very much like Gordon's tuning style and notes. They were good times. Thanks again.

[Roger Huth]

I have just been given a 78 record that Gordon Speirs recorded privately in London circa early 60's. I started to listen but I need to get a new needle to continue. Great pitch of chanter & drones. No tape back then or he might have used some on his high G which is a fraction sharp. He must have been quite young too.

[flyingpiper]

How many recordings did he make? There is one I know of here. It was called "For Your Piping Pleasure". I have a copy of a tape (given to Shelley by someone that had purchased the tape). The master has been lossed.

If anyone has a valid and "sonically good" copy of that recording, I'd love to get a hold of it to restore the recording. The one I have abruptly ends at 8KHz. Bagpipes need as much harmonic breathing room as possible to sound good.

David Hendrix
flyingpiper