In light of the ongoing global health risk posed by COVID-19, we’ve taken the difficult decision to close The National Piping Centre for the time being, writes Helen Urquhart. Of course, this is incredibly disappointing news for us to share with you, but the well-being of our students, staff, customers and visitors will always be a top priority to us. Our position as a school, restaurant, shop and tourist destination…

The P/M Donald Macleod MBE Memorial Piping Competition has been postponed until later in the year due to the coronavirus outbreak. The prestigious competition was due to be held in Stornoway on Friday, April 3 but has been postponed until the autumn, with the exact date to be confirmed later. Organisers The Lewis and Harris Piping Society announced the postponement today (March 17) after discussion with NHS Western Isles.  A…

Margaret Dunn and Finlay Johnston of the National Piping Centre have instituted a superb way of keeping the next CLASP contest for amateur pipers alive during the Covid-19 shutdown. It could form a basis for others to follow. In a letter to all contestants Margaret writes: ‘Yesterday CLASP proposed an alternative format which would allow the competition to run as planned, but instead of gathering together in one location, it would be…

The RSPBA have today taken the decision to cancel the UK Pipe Band Championships due to be held at Lurgan, Northern Ireland, on June 13. This means that only the Scottish (July 25th – Dumbarton) and the World Championships (August 14/15 – Glasgow Green) remain of the Major Championships calendar for this year. This will mean a loss of revenue for the Association which has only just completed the £900,000…

Piping Convenors of the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting, Torquil Telfer and Alan Forbes, have today issued the following statement: ‘The Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meetings are acutely alert to the impact which the current Covid-19 crisis is having on scheduled public events and gatherings. ‘After due consideration, it is our position that, at this early stage, there is no immediate requirement to cancel our piping competitions, however, as…