This plaque sits on a cairn within the Games Park in Braemar, tucked away in a corner where the piping competitions are held on Games Day (always the first Saturday in September).
It commemorates the 'Bobs of Balmoral' as they are known in piping circles.
Bob Brown was a fishing ghillie on the Balmoral estate. At the outbreak of WW2 he was pipe major of the 5/7th Gordon Highlanders. Bob Nicol was his pipe-sergeant.
Bob Nicol began piping at the age of seven. He was piper to Lord Cowdray, Dunecht before moving to Balmoral as piper to King George V in 1924. He lost an eye in a shooting accident in 1926 when he was only 20 years old. The king was anxious that Nicol receive the best piping tuition and he was sent to Inverness, to John MacDonald, along with Bob Brown. During this period Nicol became an outstanding player, winning many medals and awards.
Bob Brown died in 1972, Bob Nicol in 1978. Bob Nicol played a lament at the graveside of Bob Brown.
I remember Bob Nicol well, as he piped regularly on a Sunday afternoon when we did the 'Highland Dancing on the Green' in Ballater in the late sixties and early seventies. He was also quite distinctive (and a little scary to a young girl) with his glass eye!
Wow what a story! I will go & look at that if ever I get to Braemar…might be quite likely one day hopefully! Poor old Bob Nicol had no honour though! What service they both did & a truly wonderful plaque,
@happypat I certainly hope you do make it up to Braemar on day - I'd love to meet up and take you to see some of the various things I've posted on 365 over the years.
