Two leading office bearers within the RSPBA’s Adjudicators’ Panel have resigned over a dispute involving another member of the Panel.
Details of what the disagreement is about have not yet been made public but it is understood that following a series of written exchanges Mr Duncan resigned and is now taking legal advice on the matter.
They will be on duty at their alloted contests for the 2016 season including those for the major championships already published by the RSPBA. For example Mr Wilson will judge the Grade 1 piping at the UK Championships in Belfast and Mr Noble, an adjudicator for both drumming and ensemble, will be on duty in Grade 1 at the Scottish Championships at Dumbarton.
Under Mr Wilson and Mr Noble’s guidance, and that of Panel Secretary P/M Robert Mathieson, the Adjudicators’ Panel have forged ahead with new ideas such as consultative judging – trialled last year and planned for this year at the European Championships at Forres and the British at Belfast. More details on this in the latest issue of Pipe Band Magazine.
‘The recent happenings will have no effect whatsoever on the running of our contests. Everything continues as normal. The problems within the Adjudicators’ Panel will be addressed by them at their AGM in November. It is a matter for the adjudicators, and as far as I am aware there are no plans to replace Mr Wilson and Mr Noble at the moment. The Panel’s management board is in situ and is continuing without a Convenor or Vice Convenor.
‘Mr Wilson and Mr Noble are highly respected figures; they have resigned for personal reasons, and this is an internal adjudicator issue. It is very much business as usual for the Association. For example we already have a record entry for the British Championships to be held at Paisley with 133 bands taking part. There may be more as the entries do not close until midnight tonight [April 6].
‘We expected a large entry given that the venue is in Scotland’s Central Belt with very good motorway connections and other first class facilities for the bands. The draw for this contest will take place at 11am on the 13th of April with the playing order published on the RSPBA website shortly thereafter.
‘Difficulties such as those within the Adjudicators’ Panel arise from time to time and are unfortunate, but everyone should be re-assured that we are well prepared for the 2016 season with all adjudicators in place and ready to give of their very best for the bands.’
Judges on duty at Paisley are: