Lochaber Juniors/ Donald MacLeod Memorial

Lochaber Piping Society’s annual youth piping and drumming competition was held on Saturday, March 23, in the Gaelic Primary School, Caol, Fort William. Adjudicators were P/M Alistair Duthie, Jon Don MacKenzie, Moira Robertson, P/M DJ MacIntyre and Brian Graham (drumming), writes Ken Cameron, President. We had 60 entries across fifteen classes and the total number of individual performances was 134. While the number of contestants was encouraging, comment has been…

Letter on Alistair Campsie Book/ RSPBA Calendar/ Gordonstoun Trip

I do sometimes wonder about those writings on piping where the ‘shop window’ is so immensely off-putting that we never look further at the goods behind it, writes reader David Livingstone. The writings of Alasdair Campsie on the MacCrimmons and the pibroch settings of Simon Fraser immediately spring to mind. It is clear that the MacCrimmons existed and were eminent and respected pipers, but everything we currently know and take…

Duncan Johnstone Memorial Results 2024

This competition for junior professionals was held today (Sat., March 23) at the Piping Centre, Otago Street and McPhater Street, Glasgow. There were large entries in all categories, 34 in the C Piobaireachd and C MSR, and 23 in the B Piob and 24 in the B MSR.  Despite this, all events were completed by 5.30pm and the prizegiving finished just after 6pm.  B Grade Piobaireachd, Barbara Gillies Trophy1 Luke…

Editor’s Notebook: Johnstone Pipe Band/ 1923 Clasp/ John MacColl/ DJ Contest/ Colin’s Pipes

We appreciate P/M Keith Bowes senior forwarding this picture of the Johnstone Pipe Band. It features Pipe Major Craigie Calder, author of the recently reported tape featuring information on Bob Reid and a short excerpt of John MacColl’s playing. Keith tells me that the band was formed in 1943 during WW2 its purpose being to march Home Guard units round the town raising morale and money. Those in the picture…

A New Tune for Major John M. Allan MBE

Earlier this month, seven former pipers from the Queen’s Own Highlanders visited Major John Allan MBE at Castlehill Care Home, Cradlehall, Inverness. The purpose of the visit was to present John, now 89, with a new piobaireachd as a thank you for all that he did for those Army pipers who had the good fortune to attend the various courses run at the Army School of Bagpipe Music (ASBM), Edinburgh…