The RSPBA have just confirmed that the Scottish Pipe Band Championships scheduled for Dumbarton on July 25 have been cancelled due to the virus epidemic. In a statement the Association said: ‘In response to the current Coronavirus outbreak (CoVid-19), and after careful consideration and discussions with West Dunbartonshire Council, we have made the decision to cancel the 2020 Scottish Pipe Band Championships in Dumbarton. ‘Our decision is based on the…

At 8pm UK time millions of people in the UK will be clapping their hands in public to show their appreciation of frontline virus health staff. Pipers are already gearing up for a blast of Scotland the Brave to go along with the clapping. Now Oban High School Pipe Band and their pipe major, the world famous Angus MacColl, are calling all bands, pipers AND drummers – to join them…

It is looking less and less likely that there will be any major pipe band championships this year. Everyone should brace themselves for cancellation of the Scottish and World Championships. Major August events such as the Edinburgh Festival and Military Tattoo have tumbled already. This pandemic is now so serious that I wonder if people’s hearts would be in it anyway. Would bands have time to prepare? Short notice could…

The Radio Scotland piping programme ‘Pipeline’ has had the same producer for the past 30 years: Iain MacInnes. Yesterday saw the end of an era when Iain, now 60, retired. We asked him to reflect on his time in the studio and below he talks of a rewarding career and some of the pipers he met along the way. Iain is no mean piper himself. His father was Director of…