We have just concluded our biennial conference of Pipe Bands Australia. All members of the national management committee were re-elected: President Chris Earl, Secretary Steve Patterson, Treasurer Tim Bodey, Committee Tony Bidgood and James Cowie The current principals of college were also re-elected viz. Piping: Brett Tidswell, Drumming: Dean Hall, Drill and Dress: Tony Bidgood, Rules and Administration: Jamie Forsyth. The Principal Ensemble position, in which Brett has been acting…

Dr J David Hester, the noted ceol mor student and campaigner, has died. Dr Hester was the inspiration behind the AltPiob website which strove to encourage piobaireachd playing in an alternative style. A notice on Dr Hester’s Facebook page reads: ‘It is with profound sadness that [we announce] J. David Hester, husband of Mary C Gardella, father of Cassiel and Anael, son of Jim and Dee, brother of Micah, and…

The rain stayed off for most of the day for the final Highland games of the season. Twelve played in the seniors, 11 in the juniors. Callum Wynd played an outstanding set to win the March, Strathspey and Reel, the judges reported. Pictured above are the junior winners Archie McNab (l) and Cameron May. Overall prize went to Brian Lamond. MSR (three of each asked for)1 Callum Wynd, John MacFadyen…

There was a good entry for this graded competition. The winner of the ‘B’ Piobaireachd qualifies for the Silver Medal next year. P/M Ben Duncan (above) was Champion Piper repeating his feat at Braemar the day before. C grade Champion Piper was Brodie Watson-Massey, Edinburgh. Open Piobaireachd 1 Steven Leask 2 Sarah Muir 3 James MacKenzie4 Sandy Cameron Judge: J Wilson  B Piobaireachd 1 P/M Ben Duncan 2 Ursa Beckford 3 Ross Miller4 Calum Watson 5 Jonathon Simpson Judges:…

Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band have sent this… Graham Drummond (27) has made the move to join Shotts and Dykehead as Pipe Sergeant following a 10 year tenure in the front rank of Field Marshal Montgomery. He joins his friend and former Field Marshal band member, P/M Emmett Conway, in the leadership team at Shotts. P/M Conway, who succeeded Ryan Canning as P/M of Shotts in September 2018, said,…