Audio Clips
Pipe Major J. McWilliams composed by Donald MacLeod. Piper: Jack Lee
My Gentle Joanie
by Pipe Major James L. McWilliams
News & Events
- A Secret Of The Sphinx... read more
- Pipe Major Jim McWilliams... read more
- What The Critics Say... read more
- A SECRET OF THE SPHINX has been chosen as one of the five finalists by BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARDS for 2017!... read more
My Books
A Secret Of The Sphinx
Spring of 1798: Young Rory MacHugh leaves his Blackfoot World for an Ancient World. There determination, versatility, and several unique friends enable him to survive many new lives -- a British sailor, an Egyptian Mameluke, a convict, a Secret Agent, a French Grenadier, a Highland soldier, and a forbidden lover in an Egyptian court. But the most devastating is his first encounter with the man destined plunge the world into war and to become Rory’s own personal demon, the young General Napoleon Bonaparte
On Secret Service
It is 1810, shortly after the British victory over the French invaders of Portugal. During the winter lull, MacHugh is sent to London to track down a beautiful French spy. Things do not work out as planned and he ends up kidnapped and imprisoned in France. He soon encounters, among others, the notorious Joseph Fouché (head of Napoleon’s Secret Police), the future King George IV, and the Duke of Wellington. MacHugh even finds himself embroiled in American plans to invade Canada.
Jim's World in Photos
Wee Lachlan (age 3) sharing breakfast with his Wee Uncle Donald (Pipe Major Donald MacLeod M.B.E.) the morning after the birth of “LACHIE’S LULLABY”. (Moose Jaw, 1975)
3 McWilliams at Edinburgh Tattoo - Colin, Jim, and Lachlan.
Jim with the Delta Police Pipe Band in the1994 Edinburgh Tattoo
Jim at two-and-a-half years old, in front of his family home in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
He's wearing his father's fur hat.
Band Officer of The 19th Medium Regiment,
Royal Canadian Artillery, Calgary
Piping on the Great Wall of China, 1999.
Eighteen-year-old Jim, an infantryman in the Canadian Army at Camp Borden, Ontario
Playing his first public performance, 13-year-old Jim joins the Moose Jaw St. Andrew's Society Boy's Pipe Band to welcome Princess Elizabeth on her first royal visit to Canada.
Jim and Joan back when...
VPPB in Massed Pipes and Drums, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, 1999. Jim next to Ghurkhas.
Angor Wat, Cambodia, the most fascinating place I have ever visited.
Joan and Jim at Angor Wat, Cambodia, 2010
Two of many aspects of my musical world: Celtic with BLACKTHORN (above) and Classical (left)
The Vancouver Police Pipe Band and Tartan Pride after performing at The Coliseum, Rome, July, 2010
Fund-raising for TABITHA at Rory's Pub, Phnom Penh, August, 2010
Jim ready for "Donald, Where's Yer Troosers?" comic number with BLACKTHORN
Santa's Elf piping for The Variety Club's Xmas Concert for disadvantaged children, 2011
Most of the badges I have worn over 75 years.
“A Winter Sunset”, an oil painting by my mother, Margaret McWilliams c. 1965.
My "other home" during my first ten years was my grandparents' farm, "The Old Norgate Place", painted years later by my mother, Margaret McWilliams, nee Norgate.
Joan and Jim in 1993