Piping Press

Piping Press's Tartan Oscars for 2017 – Jack is our Piper of the Year

Robert Wallace

It’s that time of year again when we take a look back over the year and recognise the outstanding achievements – and some not so outstanding – in the piping and pipe band worlds. Before we get to that we would like to thank all of our advertisers and the thousands of readers who gave us 612,000+ views during the year. We would also like to thank those who supported the Piping Press Shop. Advertising and revenue from the shop helps keep PP subscription free. 
Our Piper of the Year has to be Jack Lee (pictured above). On the cusp of retirement, Jack proved at Oban that he can still mix it with the flashy fingered young ones by taking the Former Winners’ MSR and then went on to be crowned Glenfiddich Champion for 2017. In all this Jack never lost his ‘Gentleman Jack’ demeanour and continued to support P/M Alan Bevan as P/Sgt of SFU helping Alan and the band regain their righful place in the top six at the Worlds.

P/Sgt Alasdair Henderson and Inveraray & District PB

Runner up in this category must go to another Grade 1 Pipe Sergeant, Alasdair Henderson of Inveraray. Alasdair secured a unique double this year winning the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting and the World Pipe Band Championship with his band. Another top piper who knows how to conduct himself and a great credit to piping.
Argyll’s finest, Inveraray

Pipe Band of the Year: Inveraray. From Juvenile to the top of the pipe band world in a few short years, it has been an amazing journey for P/M Stuart Liddell and his band. They were pushed all the way by Field Marshal at the Worlds this year, but few would deny that Inveraray were due the big one. And next time you want to parade a trophy down the main street guys – just do it. Worry about the cooncil jobsworths later.
Runner – up: This was a close call between Dollar Juveniles, Lomond and Clyde and Glasgow Skye. The latter two played marvellously well carving up all G2 majors between them but in the end the panel had to go for Dollar, 2017 Grand Slammers in their grade. A massive achievement so congrats to all pipers, drummers, parents and especially tutors Matt Wilson and Lee Innes.

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Book of the Year has to be the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Collection. Even without Lochanside (Cowan’s fault) this was a tour de force showcasing all the standard works from the much-loved regiment and tunes associated with it. A second volume is in the works.
Runner up in this category is Bill Livingstone’s memoir ‘Preposterous: Tales to Follow’ if for no other reason than that Bill was prepared to put pen to paper on his interesting life and times in piping and pipe bands.
Broadcaster of the Year is Cailean MacLean recently retired after 20 something years at the helm of the BBC’s Gaelic piping show ‘Crunluath’. His matter of fact, less-blethering-more-music-approach endeared Cailean to all listeners – even those who didn’t understand a word of what he was saying.
PR Disaster Award: There’s only one winner here – the College of Piping. One public apology with accompanying legal costs is a bad mistake; a second apology and you really start to worry. However this is behind them now and everyone will be hoping that  once they have the right people in charge Otago Street will regain its deserved place in everyone’s affections.
Close behind the CoP came the National Piping Centre who also showed what can happen when staff forget their corporate responsibilities (sore arm gate). When two of McPhater Street’s high-ranking employees let down the Uist & Barra they also let down the Centre.
Event of the Year: The World Pipe Band Championship. What more needs to be said about the high point of the pipe band summer and one of the few of Scotland’s outdoor events that can boast crowds exceeding 40,000. Add that to the £20m+ it garners for the Scottish economy and it all becomes a bit of no brainer. RSPBA Chief Executive Ian Embelton and Vice Chairman John Hughes’s command of the logistics is nothing short of brilliant and Ian’s deadpan delivery of the winners’ names something that has entered pipe band folklore.
Unsung Hero Certificate: RSPBA Chairman Gordon Hamill who this year steps down after seven years at the helm. Under Gordon’s sure hand the fortunes of the Association have had a major upturn and they now have plenty of money in the bank – money that will be spent upgrading their Washington Street HQ. Gordon’s other masterstroke was to allow the Association’s branches to run their own minor contests and so create some revenue for their local bands.
Things Can Only Get Better Trophy: Well out in front were the beleaguered Solo Piping Judges Association who in their four years of existence have made just about every mistake it is possible for a (or what should be) fraternal organisation to make. Their biggest howler is/was their failure to stick to their own rule book when it came to complaints. The fallout from this will continue well into the New Year.
Now MacStig weighs in with his tuppence worth:

By MacStig

 

One of the greatest drummers of all time, Jim Kilpatrick, spotted in the crowd at the Grade 1 arena

Add some of your light hearted ‘moments’ below. (Keep it clean, and play nice!)

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