Obit: Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper (March 2009)

Subject: Obit.-- Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper
From: bubblyrat
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 11:43 AM

There appears ,in today's Daily Telegraph, a short obituary for Jim Bryan,latterly of Salisbury, Master of Northumbrian Pipes and co-author,in the 1960s,of a book on how to make the instrument (always one of my favourites ).Aged 77 RIP

Subject: RE: Obit.-- Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 11:58 AM

It's not on their website yet - probably tomorrow, judging by what is there.

He had been NPS president for the last 3 years, had just been re-elected for a further term, and was looking forward to improving health for the summer.

So far a couple of memorial events have been proposed: a "president's day" in May down near Salisbury, and a concert in Morpeth in October.
Pipers have played his favourite tune - Archie's Fancy, by Billy Pigg - in his memory.

There's a copy of Cocks & Bryan on ebay at present - the original edition.

Paws

Subject: RE: Obit.-- Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper
From: Little Robyn
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 01:43 PM

Sorry to hear that.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Obit.-- Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper
From: Little Robyn
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 04:19 PM

Below is a message from a friend, another Northumbrian piper.

I saw the obit referred to in the DT yesterday and have just phoned Lionel and Rhonda Miller, to tell them. They had lost touch with Jim since he set out on his travels.

I have a copy of the original Cocks and Bryan book signed with a couplet by Jim, Billy Pigg, William Hamilton and a pipe major, M.Harper. I'd be interested to know what the value of this is reckoned to be, if anyone has any idea?

What other revised editions have been published, pray, and by whom?

Bob Rundle
Camborne

Subject: RE: Obit.-- Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper
From: skipy
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 04:24 PM

What is the exact title & date of the book?
Skipy

Subject: RE: Obit.-- Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 04:46 PM

"The Northumbrian Bagpipes" by WA Cocks & JF Bryan, published NPS, 1967
Revised & republished 1975.

Both editions now out of print. There is one (1967 version)on ebay at present with a starting price of 28 GBP, but no bids (and one day to go).

Bob also sent his query to me, and I answered as above.

Paws

Subject: RE: Obit.-- Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper
From: Effsee
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 10:58 PM

Sheesh! An Obit thread turning into an E-bay auction!
Have you people no consideration for the family involved?
My comissererations.
RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit.-- Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 05:33 AM

Effsee -
I appreciate your point, however I do know that the immediate family do not have computer access so are unlikely to read this.

I have no connection with the auction, despite the society (of which I am secretary) logo being hijacked to advertise the item. I merely used it as a guide price for someone who asked the question as a result of reading the obit in the Torygraph, which itself is an edited down version of one which appeared in the Salisbury Journal, written by Ian Curr, a local piper there (also available online)

Jim Bryan will be remembered by pipers: so far two memorial events are scheduled: a tune composed, and our condolences recorded, both in our minutes, and in the splendid send off with music which Jim received.

Paws

Subject: RE: Obit: Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper (March 2009)
From: GUEST,Jim's Son In Law
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 06:06 PM

Hello everyone,

This is to all those Pipers out there who understand and appreciate exactly what Jim Bryan did for Northumbrian Piping. I am Jim's son in law, and had the good fortune to know Jim for some 28 years before ill health got the better of him. He would be tickled pink to know that his and Bill Cock's book is still being pursued around the world, albeit on e-bay.

Jim's memory lives on through the book, and through the many people that he and his wife Marion met during their life sailing the Mediterranean and then the intra-coastal waters of the USA.

I well remember Jim (and Marion) recounting the opposition and voices of disapproval that they experienced when the book was published, from those within the then close knit community of Northumbrian Pipers. I sincerely hope that after all these years those voices have now been silenced by the resurgence of interest in the Northumbrian Pipes. Let us hope that it continues to gain support or interest and that it achieves some real global recognition.

I am not a Piper, but I fully appreciated the beauty of the pipes during those wonderful President's Days here in Salisbury, when six, eight or more pipes played in unison and in harmony. The power of the haunting nature of the pipes really make an impact.

God Bless you all, and may your pipes stay in tune.

Stuart Kirkham

Subject: RE: Obit: Jim Bryan,Northumbrian Piper (March 2009)
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 06:59 AM

Thanks, Stuart.

The NPS is making plans to put Jim's drawings on its website, and I will be in touch with Marion shortly about some other matters, via Ian Curr.

He may be gone, but he is not forgotten. I was in fact reading society minutes from the period when he was its chairman just yesterday.

His book was very important (and, as you say, caused controversy). Most of those dissenting voices are long gone. After 40 years of huge piping expansion and progress it is however "of its time", and we are working to make as many pipemaking resources available as possible, both modern and historical.

Paws / Julia