The Inaugural Meeting of The Bagpipe Society

This edition is from our archives, so it is presented as scanned pages rather than text.

The Inaugural Meeting of The Bagpipe Society

Of the fifty or so people who expressed a willingness to join an as yet un-named, unconstituted society, eighteen attended the inaugural meeting at the Faculty of Music in the University of Oxford on December 1, 1985. The meeting was opened by the Society’s Honorary President, Jon Swayne playing ‘The First of December’ (a tune especially written for the occasion) on his newly developed set of half-long pipes. The meeting continued under the control of David Van Doorn, the acting secretary, starting with the election of committee members and proceeding to work its way through a draft constitution. Most points were resolved without difficulty, although the naming of the Society and its learned organ (The Journal) generated some lively debate. Suggestions for names ranged from the epic to the obscure. Ultimately, the name ‘The Bagpipe Society’ was chosen for its ability to encompass a wide variety of interests in different types of bagpipe without prejudice for or ‘against any particular tradition or revival. It was decided that the Journal would be known as Chanter: Journal of the Bagpipe Society.

During the lunch-break Jeremy Montagu, the Curator of the Bate Collection of Historical Instruments which is housed in the Faculty of Music, opened the collection for Bagpipe Society members attending the meeting to have a special out-of-hours viewing of the many fine instruments that it contains. Deliberations over affairs constitutional continued until quite late in the afternoon. At the end of the day there was an opportunity to examine other members’ bagpipes and discuss them with their owners. It soon became clear that the provision of such informal occasions would be an important function of the Society. On such occasions, help is at hand, or advice may be given, on the problems which inevitably afflict bagpipes from time to time. Tunes may be exchanged, informal tuition given, and many advantages accrue from being in the company of like-minded people.

For those able to stay into the evening, a session was held in the Half Moon in Oxford, a miniscule pub, but one with a long history of hosting sessions. I doubt, though, that there have ever been so many bagpipes there at one time before! This was an excellent way to round off the day, and a good time was had by all.

Simon Owen

Constitution of the Bagpipe Society

Here is the Constitution as it was finally approved at the AGM.

CONSTITUTION

That the organisation shall be known as “The Bagpipe Society” (hereinafter referred to as the Society).
That the aims of the Society be:

to encourage more people to take up playing the bagpipes, thereby increasing the instrument’s popularity.
to promote public awareness of all forms of folk and early bagpipes
to build a common pool of repertoire and playing techniques
to build a common pool of research material for future investigation
to publish plans (copyright permitting) for amateur makers
to encourage standards of excellence in playing and making (by example rather than by competition)
to promote the revival of bagpipes as modern folk instruments in this country
to encourage the future development of the bagpipe and to develop new instruments, e.g. a modern English bagpipe
to encourage communication with, and give support to, societies with related interests, e.g. the Hurdy-gurdy Society, and specialist piping societies such as Highland, Uilleann and Northumbrian.

That the membership of the Society shall be open to all on payment of the current annual membership subscription, as agreed at the Annual General Meeting.
That the Society shall have an Honorary President, which position shall be for 5 years.
That the managing committee of the Society (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) shall consist of

Chairperson
Hon. Secretary (to include Membership Society)
Hon. Treasurer
Publicity Officer
Journal Editor

Two ordinary members
A quorum shall be deemed to be when 4 members of the Committee are
present. The chairperson shall have the casting vote.

That the Annual General Meeting shall be held in November/December at
which the election of the Committee shall be held. All members will be
notified of the date at least 2 months in advance. Names plus signatures of
candidates shall be submitted to the Committee by 4 weeks before the AGM
and then a secret ballot shall be held for contested posts, at the AGM, the
results being declared by the retiring chairperson.
That the ballot shall be run as follows. Each full member shall be
entitled to one vote which may be cast in person, by post or by proxy.
When known in advance, members will be notified of motions subject to a
vote no later than 4 weeks before the meeting. Postal votes must arrive
with the secretary by the day before the meeting.
That if any member of the Committee resigns, the Committee shall have
the power to co-opt another member of the Society who will hold the post
until the next AGM.
That it is the duty of the

a) Chairperson to organise the running of official meetings and balloting
b) Hon. Secretary to record a summary of committee meetings and Society
meetings in the Society minutes and to record membership details.
c) Hon. Treasurer to keep an up-to-date account of the Society’s financial
transactions and that this shall be made available to any member of the
Society for inspection on request
d) Publicity Officer to organise all advertising and events.
e) Journal Editor to produce a Biannual Journal, to be known as Chanter -
The Journal of the Bagpipe Society.

That accounts of the Society’s finances be submitted annually for audit
by two auditors, appointed at the AGM, who shall not be members of the
Society. A current account shall be kept in the name of ‘The Bagpipe
Society’.

Access to account finances shall be only by cheque signed by the Hon.
Treasurer and countersigned by one other committee member as registered
with the bank. A float of petty cash, the limit to be agreed by the AGM,
shall be held by the Treasurer or another officer, as deemed necessary by
the committee.

That should the Society cease to function then all remaining finances
shall be donated to a similar organisation or charity as agreed by the
remaining interested members.
The constitution and committee may only be changed at an AGM or
EGM at which time the meeting shall be considered quorate (for the purpose
of constitution and committee changes only) when one-third of the
membership is present (including proxy and postal votes). A majority of
75% of those voting shall be required to change the constitution or
committee.
All other voting at an AGM or EGM shall be by simple majority, the
chairperson having the casting vote.
That written petition of at least 10 members of the Society, to the
Secretary, shall cause the convention of an Extraordinary General Meeting
(EGM), to take place at a date and venue to be decided by the Committee
and no later than one month after receipt of the petition.

1st December 1985

Committee Members

The Committee elected to serve for a period of one year is as follows:

Chairperson - Simon Owen

Secretary - Dave Van Doorn

Treasurer - Jacqueline Contre

Publicity Officer - Judy Tarry

Journal Editor - Peter Stacey

Ordinary Member - Steafan Hannegan

Ordinary Member - Chi Allen