Piping Press has just learned of the death at the age of 80 of Lawrie Gillespie, former member of Pipe Major Iain McLeod’s World Championships winning Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band in 1971 and 1972.  Lawrie Gillespie was also a prominent competitor in the solo piping circuit. Following service in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, Lawrie Gillespie joined Edinburgh City Police in 1962 where he served until he retired at…

The annual professional competition run by the Scottish Pipers’ Association was held at the NPC Otago Street and the NPC McPhater Street in Glasgow today (April 13). Results: A Piob:1 Darach Urquhart, Earl of Ross’s March2 Steven Leask, I Gave a Kiss to the KIng’s Hand3 Sarah Muir, End of the High Bridge4 William Geddes, Old Men of the Shells5 Allan Russell, Mary’s Praise B Piob:1 Finlay Cameron2 John McElmurray3…

The Scotsman newspaper reports today on the unveiling of the design of a sculpture (above) to commemorate the murder of piper Eilidh MacLeod, who died in the terrorist bomb outrage in Manchester two years ago. The paper reports: ‘Work is continuing on the bronze sculpture – featuring a young female bagpiper with her pipes at rest, reaching out a hand to a young boy also learning the instrument – which…

The first major of the season will be held at St James Playing Fields in Paisley on May 18. Here is the draw and the approximate playing times in Grade 1: Grade 1 – Final14:30 Field Marshal 14:40 SLoT 14:50 Scottish Power 15:00 Fife Police15:10 PSNI15:20 Lomond and Clyde 15:30 Johnstone 15:40 Boghall 15:50 Shotts 16:00 Inveraray 16:10 Glasgow Police 16:20 Glasgow Skye Adjudicators: Maurice Rhodes Robert Worrall Paul Brown Cameron…

Bobby Allan from Chryston, Lanarkshire, was the overall winner at yesterday’s (April 6) junior piping competition run by the Kintyre Piping Society. Events were held in the Ardshiel and Seafield Hotels. Margaret Anderson Youngest Competitor trophy: Cara MacPhersonBest local in event 1: Maia McNeillageBest local in event 3: Calum McAllisterBest local events 4&5: Matthew McKerralBest local in events 19 & 11: Callum McKillopBest girl with most points: Catriona NormanMost promising…