It is a tradition at the Northern Meeting that the previous year’s Gold Medallist pipes at the civic reception that inaugurates that particular year’s competition. This year the honour fell to Dr Peter McCalister recently mentioned on these pages as a prizewinner in the Bratach Gorm in London. Before his performance in the Inverness Town House back in August, Peter circulated notes on the tunes he was going to play…

Tam McGirr, formerly of Fife and now in Australia, has sent this regarding the historic picture of Bob Shepherd in his early days teaching piping at Ballingry School. Tam writes:‘To the best of my recollection the pupils are, front desk with glasses: Tom McGirr (Dysart Worlds 1978) age 15yrs then Shotts & Police Fife) and James Galloway. Left desk: Robert Jeffrey and Billy Campbell. RT Shepherd. Seated behind: Jock Rougvie,…

Piobaireachd for the Dr Calum MacCrimmon Bratach Gorm (7 tunes) sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society1 Callum Beaumont, Lament for the Earl of Antrim2 Iain Speirs, Nameless, Cherede darievea3 Alasdair Henderson, Battle Auldearn 24 Glenn Brown, Scarce of Fishing5 Peter McCalister, Earl of Seaforth’s SaluteJudges: C Armstrong, W Wotherspoon, A Wright Open Piobaireachd for the William Gillies Cup (6 tunes)1 Callum Beaumont2 Alasdair Henderson3 Steven Leask4 Roderick MacLeod5 Sarah MuirJudges: A…

The Bratach Gorm piobaireachd competition was held last night (Nov 1) – the first time on a Friday. The venue was the Caledonian Club, Belgravia, London, and a good crowd supported the event run by the Scottish Piping Society of London and sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society. Unfortunately, to the general disgruntlement of the audience, the results were witheld until the prizegiving later today. Ten pipers entered; nine played; seven…

Today, with the Bratach Gorm taking place this evening in London, we thought it apposite to look back several decades, to 1972 to be precise, to see how the contest went on that occasion. This report is from the Oban Times of November that year and was by John MacFadyen (left). Yet again we see the historical value of written reports on piping. There is poignant mention of Jimmy Hardie…