We are grateful to reader Robin McPhee from, Wellington, New Zealand, for forwarding this cutting concerning the demise of the great George S. McLennan. Robin writes: ‘I enjoy Piping Press and thought this article, that I discovered while doing some family history research, might be of passing interest. ‘The original newspaper can be found online at the Glengarry County Archives Website.’ The article is from the Glengarry News, Ontario, Canada, and is dated…

Lt. Col. David Murray was a renowned piping historian, writer, piobaireachd authority and judge. Before he died in 2017 he sent the following article to the editor. It records Lt. Col. Murray’s time on the sub-continent judging the bands of the Pakistani Army. We are fortunate that Lt. Col. Murray included some never before published photographs of himself peforming his judging duties. At a time when music in any form…

By Gilbert Cromie Congratulation to Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band who has been named one of the eighteen leading figures from the world of business, science, sport, academia and the arts to become Honorary Graduates of Queens University Belfast for 2019. This is outstanding recognition for Richard who for over three decades has steered the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band to an amazing…

Piping Press editor Robert Wallace has been elected President of the Piobaireachd Society. Mr Wallace takes over from Dr Jack Taylor who has retired after 12 years in post. The appointment was confirmed at the Society’s AGM held yesterday (March 23) at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. In proposing Mr Wallace Dr Taylor said the Society was following precedent in offering the vacant post to the Vice President and…

Pipe band drumming expert Allan Chatto OAM concludes his article (abridged) on how bands can improve drum corps work and ensemble… Snare drum scores should be arranged using motifs and phrases that are all within the capability of the members of the drum corps. There is not much point in including some tricky or catchy phrases that the leading drummer may like only to find some of the snare drummers…