PP Publishing has issued two new piping books by PP Editor Robert Wallace. The first is the ‘The Bagpiper’s Handbook’. The full-colour book is described as ‘a concise yet complete handbook for all pipers. Learn how to tie in a stock, adjust your reeds, test your bag and much, much more. A handy size, the book can be kept in the pipe case for easy reference.’ In the Foreword the…

A popular piper was one of the 12 victims of yesterday’s Virginia Beach shooting in the USA. Most of the dead worked for the resort city’s council. The piper was Christopher Rapp. `he played for the Tidewater Pipes and Drums, a south east Virginia pipe band. US news agencies reported that Christopher had worked for the council for 11 months. He loved Scottish music according to reports. The band remembered Christopher…

I think it’s time again that you raise the old chestnut of the same tunes being played time after time in the MSR, especially in Grade 1, writes reader Ian Forbes. I almost lost count of the number of G1 bands playing Lord Alexander Kennedy [at the British Championships]. I applaud Scottish Power who played the lovely march 93rd Highlanders, and who got two firsts in piping.  Marvellous. Here are my…

Hugh MacCallum’s funeral will be at Falkirk Crematorium, Dorrator Road, Camelon, Falkirk FK2 7YJ on Thursday, June 6, at 1:45pm. Hugh died earlier this week after a long illness. Report here. The 2019 Northern Meeting will be held at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, on August 30 and 31. Here are the benches and timekeepers: Gold Medal: Stuart Samson, Tom Speirs, William Wotherspoon. Timekeeper: A Fraser Silver Medal: Neill Mulvie, Stuart Shedden,…

The following judges have been announced for the piobaireachd competitions and the Former Winners’ MSR at the Argyllshire Gathering 2019.The Gathering is on August 21 & 22.