Obituary - Pipe-Major Edmund Esson
Pipers throughout the world were sorry to hear of the passing on June 25th of Ed Esson in Vancouver.
One of the greatest enthusiasts for everything associated with piping, Ed was particularly active as Pipe-Major of the Canadian Seaforths, before, during and after the War. He was a close link with the many fine
pipers who had emigrated earlier in the century, including Donald MacIver, Willie Campbell (formerly Queen Victoria's piper). John Gillies (ex-Pipe Major of the Scots Guards), Alick Johnstone, Duncan MacTavish, Bill MacIndewar and many others.
Ed's aim in life seems to have been to get as many people interested in piping as possible. In 1932 he was one of the founder members of the British Colombia's Pipers' Association, its first Secretary and later President and Past President.
Early in 1943 he left for overseas with the regiment and served in Europe and Africa throughout the duration of the war. His commanding presence and imposing fugure made him famous wherever he went. The fact that he sported a beard at a time when few Army men did, made him even more noticeable and when he lead the massed pipe bands in the victory parade through Tripoli he became world-renowned.
Earlier in the war when he attended one of the courses at Edinburgh Castle he fell under the spell of Pipe Major Wille Ross. Willie became his greated hero and Ed became a storehouse of Willie Ross stories and legends.
When the war ended he returned to his tremendous work of encouraging piping in British Colombia. As an added incentive for the pipers and as one way of saying thank you to Willie Ross for all he had done for Canadian pipers, Ed arranged in 1952 a tour of Canada for the great man, accompanied by his outstanding pupil, John Burgess. The success of this trip encouraged Ed to bring other pipers to Canada from Scotland and these visits began the close association of the two countries which has been so beneficial to piping in Canada.
It was the result of my trip in 1953 that I was invited to take over the teaching of piping at the Gaelic College summer school in Cape Breton and this was the origin of all piping summer schools throughout North America.
Ed was a fanatical piper, a perfect host, a marvellous organiser. When he introduced me to his commanding officer I felt that Ed was playing a part - he should have been the colonel (at least) and I realised then that had Ed decided to give up piping in the Army he could easily have gone to the top of the chain of command. But Ed put piping before everything else.
He is survivied by his wife Anne and we mourn with her at this time. Our consolation is the happy memorories of times spent with a very great man.
S. MacNeill