Reader Eric McGaw, ‘I would like to leave a comment regarding this event [last weekend’s British Pipe Band Championship]. I think it is a really good idea to have other people’s perspectives on this event.
‘I travelled by plane on Saturday morning and walked to the venue, so access for me was excellent. I observed lots of car parking for coaches and cars.
‘I assumed that accessibility for other people was not an issue. I arrived at the RHS grounds and was immediately taken by the amount of space.
‘I was also taken by the facilities and heard lots of people commenting on the proper toilets. During the day I hardly noticed planes at all.
‘I listened to bands in 1, 2, 3, arenas and, whilst there was a bit of distance between 2 and 3, the ground was flat and not an issue for me being aged three score years and ten.
‘I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the day and will be back next year. Also, anyone I spoke to thought it was a fantastic location for a competition.
‘The RHS committee and the RSPBA are to be commended on a fantastic day. The music I heard in all grades was fantastic as always.’
PS Summer School
The school’s closing competition was won Yann Le Vaillant from Brittany playing the ground and first variation of MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart.
Yann, a ship’s captain with Brittany Ferries, received a £200 wooden practice chanter generously presented by McCallum Bagpipes. Second was Craig McIntosh from Yorkshire but now resident in Aberdeenshire. Craig played MacIntosh’s Lament. Third was Greg Hebda from Illinois (Mary MacLeod), and fourth, Ian Cummings from Norfolk (Fingerlock).
The Dress and Deportment prize was won by a very smart Mark Girvan who received a single cane bass drone reed by Robert Barnes, courtesy Allan Hamilton, and a quarter bottle of Islay malt whisky.
Eleven played and the judging panel, chaired by Catriona Hill, comprised the students who did not compete.
Above is the PS SS Class of ’26 with a few students missing for various reasons. Next year’s school is from May 30 – June 4 and will be advertised in due course.
Medal Info
Last week we had a request for info on a medal recently acquired by reader Mr TJ Jewett: ‘I have just acquired a 9K gold medallion with this inscription: ‘Presented to Mr A. Campbell by the members of the band on his leaving Torphichen 1905’.
‘I have been unable to discover exactly who this gentleman was, or his relationship to the band. Any light which you may be able to shed on this mystery would be much appreciated!’
Mr Jewett has now forwarded the front of the medal and a bit more info in the hope that it will jog some memory.
Mr Jewett: ‘This medallion turned up in Portland, Maine (USA). It was part of an estate sale or house clean-out or something similar.
‘A lady I know bought it and I purchased it from her. I can’t begin to imagine the journey it took to get here during the past 120 years.’
If anyone can help Mr Jewett please reply in our Comments section
Oban & Inverness
The Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting have confirmed their arrangements for this year’s Senior Piobaireachd and Clasp competitions.
There have been concerns over the potential length of the competitions given that there are almost 30 entries in each. Oban has decided to run their event as normal with an early start. If everyone plays the contest could last, given the length of some of the tunes, for 12 hours if we include breaks.
Inverness has opted for two heats to be held on the Thursday of the meeting with six from each going forward to a Clasp final the following day, a different tune being played.
