PP Editor’s Blog: Tying Bridles/ Florida Academy Sponsorship/ Brian Niven/ Structured Learning Vids

Pleased to announce that Wm. Sinclair & Co. are to sponsor the South Florida Pipe & Drum Academy. Thank you! I think it is a credit to the Academy that so many leading piping firms are willing to support it. Wm Sinclair join RT Shepherd, D Naill & Co, McCallum Bagpipes, G1 Reeds and Pipe Dreams on our list of benefactors. The Academy runs from February 24 – 28 inclusive…

Judges Announced for ‘Wheel of Fortune’/ ‘Live in Ireland’ Dress Code

Judges for the prestigious ‘Pipe Major’s Wheel of Fortune’ competition will be three of the most respected pipe majors in the pipe band world: P/M Bob Shepherd, P/M Ian McLellan, and P/M Barry Donaldson. A spokesman for the promoters, City of Edinburgh Pipe Band, said: ‘We were delighted when Bob and Ian agreed to join our own pipe major Barry Donaldson on the bench for what is going to be…

PP Editor’s Blog: ‘Live in Ireland’ Reception

A very pleasant few hours were passed at the reception held last night for this Saturday’s ‘Live in Ireland’ concert. Not for the first time a Glasgow city centre pub thronged with some of the best known names in piping and pipe bands. Indeed, one of the remarkable things about the concert is the way so many Grade 1 pipe majors and leading drummers have recognised the significance of the…

Statement from RG Hardie & Co. on the Company’s History, Products and Trade Marks

One of our advertisers, RG Hardie & Co.Ltd., has issued the following statement after reports concerning their company history, products and trade marks appeared on the internet: ‘Seasoning was a product sold by R.G.Hardie from 1950 to 1966 but the firm’s offering was  considered inferior to the ‘Airtight’ brand sold by James Robertson’s Bagpipes Ltd., Edinburgh. In 1966 James Robertson was acquired by R.G.Hardie and all bagpipe-making machines were transported…

History: Tales from the Castle and P/M Willie Ross

If, like many, you enjoy piping history, you will read the following with avidity. It is from P/M Sandy Hain, formerly of Fife and now domiciled in Ohio, USA. Sandy ‘did the course’ at the Army School of Piping, Edinburgh Castle, 1950 -51. He has many stories of his time there with P/M Willie Ross, great piper and a great character (as you will see). We asked Sandy if he would…