Reader ‘JW’ writes again re solo judging: ‘I must tip my hat to Neil Mulvie on his very truthful comments regarding SPJA judges and all the problems he was brave enough to mention. Neil has been right there for years and seen it all, or was he telling us something we all knew anyway?
‘Is it not time this was sorted out once and for all as it doesn’t seem to have changed; in fact it’s got worse. The Editor is quite right that there needs to be a starting point for senior, or in fact any, judges to even be considered for judging at any level.
‘They should have a good track record of playing in competitions for a number of years, gaining much needed experience. Just wanted to add something to this as a competing piper but can’t reveal myself as I’d be finished and be as well putting my pipes in the box as they say.’
A few points to make. I don’t think Neil mentioned the SPJA, the Solo Piping Judges Association, his main argument being that you need more than just a good competitive track record to make a good judge.
JW is unknown to us but as he states he is a competing piper we should pay heed to his opinions. We have received a few other anonymous but not-for-publication emails from solo competitors concerned about judging, particularly about the benches at London last November. This is a matter for the promoters rather than the SPJA I feel.
PS Books
Steve Moore has been in touch regarding the revision of the Piobaireachd Society’s books. Steve writes, ‘Did MacGregor’s Salute get Variation 3 corrected at any point? Not seeing it mentioned in the list of changes.’
The list Steve mentions is of all the edits, additions and major corrections, carried out during the revision project 2019-2025. The list is on the News page of the Society’s website here.
MacGregor’s Salute (or Gathering) is in Book 10. Old versions of the book have Variation 3 with some low As, Bs and Cs out of kilter with the rest of the tune. This was corrected in a 2016 reprint of Book 10 hence its omission from the 2019-2025 list of changes.
I can again recommend the digital versions of all the books 1-16. These have all the changes and are suitable for tablet computer. The Society is currently offering its members a £25 discount on the usual £100 purchase price. (See latest President’s Newsletter.) Check the books out here.
RSPBA Website
The Association is currently transitioning onto a new website. They hope to have it up and running by Sunday evening. There has been a holding page for the past week informing everyone of the changeover.
Jackie Allan, RSPBA Media and Marketing Director: ‘Background actions are being carried out and tested to make sure all goes well.
‘I think everyone will be very pleased with this new site. It’s so much easier to navigate, has a much brighter look and feel, and should boost online traffic significantly.
‘It has been designed by Davie Hunter, our newest Director, who has spent all summer working on it. He also has a good understanding of what the customer wants, and there are lots of nice touches, e.g. pen pictures of all the directors, a historic section with scans of old programmes, and a calendar of events that you can sync with your own.
‘It should go live by the end of the weekend as we need it functioning to enable competition entries for the forthcoming season.’
Campbeltown Travellers
Reader Shauvonne has been in touch about Iain Duncan’s story on the travelling pipers of Kintyre we published in January 2022. She writes, ‘My grandmother was Bridget Townsley and my grandad George Townsley. They had a large family of four boys and four girls. My mother is Marion Townsley.
‘My grandad’s sister was called Rachel and he had many more. I think my grandparents were both related in some way. My family, the Townsley’s, still live in Campbeltown but there are not many left now. Anyone who wants to get in touch, my email is shauvvone@hotmail.com .’
Masters Drumming
I read in the local press about arts organisations losing out over the sudden closure of Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts. This was to be the venue for last Saturday’s Masters Drumming Championship (promoted here a week ago) until the CCA’s sudden closure less than 24 hours before the event.
These arts organisations say they have heard nothing from the management nor the liquidator and hold out no hope at all of getting advanced ticket money back. These were all bought via the CCA website – still active even after staff had been notified of the closure.
I’m glad our early reporting of the cancellation and subsequent change of venue saved the Masters promoters a bit of cash. Everyone should now rally round to support them and ensure that the 2027 event goes ahead.
As a start point the promoters should approach the RSPBA about the use of their excellent HQ facilities in Washington Street. I know the Masters is not an RSPBA sanctioned event but that shouldn’t matter. All the judges are Association accredited and all the contestants members via their bands, and there’s no chance of things going belly up the day before.
‘Highland Bagpipe Music’ by Donald Morrison – digital book
This book was first produced shortly before Donald died in 1988. Languishing out of print, it surfaced in 2021 following contact between Piping Press editor Robert Wallace and Donald’s daughter Sheona. Sheona agreed that it should be offered to the piping public once more at nominal cost, the aim being to preserve her father’s musical legacy. Donald Morrison was the complete piper a fine teacher, composer and soloist. He won the Gold Medal, the Bratach Gorm and many other top…
