The "Bobs of Balmoral", was the name given to pipers Robert U. Brown and Robert B. Nicol. They served as pipers at the Balmoral Estate in Scotland from 1927 until their deaths in the1970's. In their lifetimes they achieved legendary greatness in Scotland and abroad for their piping, particularly as piobaireachd (classical bagpipe music) players and teachers, and taught many pupils. They inspired generations of dedicated pipers.
When their competing days were over, the "Bobs" began the task of passing their knowledge to future generations and a steady strean of pipers beat a path to their Deeside homes, many armed with tape recorders, as in the case of Norman Matheson. Norman build up a sizable collection of taped lessons, particularly of Nicol, and he exchanged copies of these recordings for others made at schools given by the "Bobs" around the world. A library of their singing and playing "Masters of Piobaireachd" was thus accumulated.
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