I hear that Dollar Academy are once more running their popular and successful pipe band contest at the end of May.
All grades and D/Ms are catered for I believe. Ample and picturesque grounds at the foot of the Ochils make a perfect setting for such an event. Reasonably easy to get to, the contest always attracts a large entry.
If I were running the RSPBA I’d be on the blower PDQ asking if it could be badged ‘British Pipe Band Championship’. I can’t see the headmaster objecting, can you? And lo, it came to pass that we had that elusive missing major!
Now the naysayers will begin immediately to say exactly why it can’t be done, you know that don’t you? Health and Safety, police, stewards, judges, trophies, prizemoney, buses.
But this is already a Dundee, Perth and Angus Branch contest, so what’s the difficulty with a slight upgrade? It’s all so simple; so simple that it will never happen.
Lochaber Gathering
Ken and Rhona Cameron have announced that they are standing down from their positions at Lochaber Piping Society. Ken has sent this: ‘LPS held its AGM a few days ago and we have had some changes within the Committee. Rhona and I (as Secretary and Chairman) declined to offer ourselves for re-election so we now have, as Office-Bearers, Angus Nicolson (Chairman), James Rosie (Secretary) and Fiona Fotheringham remains in post as Treasurer. We will still be involved with the Society and there will probably be a lengthy period of hand-over.
‘The Society had gone through a bit of a cyclical dip in 2016 and that’s when I took up as Chairman. Neither Rhona nor I are pipers, of course, so having stability and a great team now within the Society, this seemed a good time to bow out. Angus Nicolson will do a great job as Chairman and James Rosie, being keen and full of energy, will work well as Secretary, while Fiona Fotheringham has the finances under tight control. The Society’s future looks good, with a healthy membership, and we’re looking forward to a successful 2025 and beyond.’
Congrats to both Ken and Rhona on a successful stint at the helm. They are of course the proud parents of piping champions Finlay and Sandy Cameron.
Cupar Pipe Band
This picture was doing the rounds at Bob Hain’s funeral a couple of months back. It is of his Cupar Pipe Band at a supermarket fundraiser in 1988. Were you in the band that day? If so please forward any names of your fellow band mates.
EUSPBA Champions
Congratulations to these pipers who have done so well in the Eastern United States PBA solo piping rankings for 2024:
Open: 1 Dan Lyden 2 Nick Hudson 3 Andrew Donlon 4 Derek Midgley 5 Cameron Macdougall
G1 Amateur: 1 Magnus Stone 2 Michael Trenor 3 Flora Stone 4 Karl Fetter 5 Liam Horne
G2 Amateur: 1 M Saxer 2 D Hurst 3 D Flaherty 4 C Rodriguez 5 B Englebretson
G3 Amateur: 1 C Baum 2 M McAuliffe 3 C Stocker 4 J Schrader 5 K Camidge
Over 50s: 1 M Tierney 2 S Smith 3 E Albert 4 D Rankine, J Hardy
18 & U Piping: 1 A Pavlov 2 J Fox 3 N Giesow 4 A Madan, B Carter, H Strawbridge
Miscellany
- Alex Duncan, Chief Executive, of the Scottish Schools Pipes & Drums Trust: ‘I’m sad to say that I am moving on from the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust after 10 years, taking semi-retirement, but am delighted to introduce you to our new CEO Lindsay Mackenzie. Lindsay comes from Sport Scotland and has a wealth of experience supporting the development of organisations whose focus has been on developing young people’s talents.’
- Reader Mark Yeats: ‘I was looking through items on the internet concerning the London Scottish. I found your publication and saw some information about the London Scottish band. Morrie Mills was my grandfather (maternal) and am keen to acquire anything that may mention him. As a young man I was quite close to him and told me some amusing stories about his time in the London Scottish. Always reluctant to talk about war details however. My email is markhyeats@gmail.com .’
- The Lochnell Intermediate Championship for young professional pipers will be held on October 12 at Lochnell Castle, Benderloch.
