PP Editor’s Blog: Busy Brighde/ May’s Funeral/ Forres Pix/ ANZAC Day

Last week was a busy and successful time for 17-year-old Skye piper Brighde Chaimbeul. Not only did she pick up first place in the Highlands & Islands C Grade MSR but she also won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award for 2016 – at a glittering ceremony in London’s Royal Albert Hall no less.

Brighde won through to the finals from hundreds of young folk musicians from throughout Britain. She played smallpipes in the finals of the competition and was presented with her trophy by the Northumbrian piper, Kathryn Tickell.

All congratulations to Brighde and I hope she continues her success round the games this summer. Here’s a nice pic of her with her award:Brighde-2


On a sadder note, today is May McLellan’s funeral. The service is at All Saints Episcopal Church in Bearsden near Glasgow at 12.30pm, thereafter to Clydebank Crematorium. Here are the directions to the church once more:all-saints


The band season is just about here with the British Championships at Paisley on May 21. I hope the weather warms up in time. To get everyone in the mood (as if I needed to) here are a couple of good drumming  shots from Elgin photographer Stuart Scott from last year’s Europeans.

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Steven McWhirter and the drum corps from Inveraray Pipe Band

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Glasgow Police leading tip Eric Ward

This year’s Europeans are on June 25. Click here for dates of all the majors and don’t forget that tickets for the Worlds are already on sale here.



New letter from piper Hardy Spoehr in Hawaii published today. Hardy is anxious to identify an old Scottish bridge.


brettWell done to Brett Tidswell of the School of Bagpiping in Adelaide (above) for playing at the recent Anzac Day commemorations in South Australia. There is no better instrument for adding pathos and dignity to important occasions such as this. The 20,000 who attended would have appreciated the piping I am sure. It has not always been a feature of the Dawn Service, so let’s hope Brett has started a tradition.


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