By L/D Arthur Cook Following on from recent articles regarding females in the piping and pipe band world, the Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band have recruited a new bass drummer and additional tenor drummers for the 2019 season. This now gives the band its first all female bass section comprising of a bass and seven tenor drummers. This may be the first all female bass section in Grade 1?  With…

The Pipers’ & Pipe Band Society of Ontario is pleased to announce the first annual Silver Medal Qualifier contest open to CPA members with a B grading to be held in Georgetown, Ontario (exact location TBD) on Friday, June 7, 2019 at 7:00pm. This qualifier event will provide the winner with entry into the Silver Medal events at both the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting in 2020. In addition to the Silver…

After 38 years of owning Mister Antony, Antony Mistofsky, has retired, the company has announced. In a statement they say, ‘The name ‘MISTER ANTONY’ has been synonymous with Inverness raincapes since the early 80s. Bandsmen and women worldwide wear Mister Antony raincape products. ‘For many years the Mister Antony  Standard lightweight raincape and matching pouch found great popularity with the majority of pipe bands. ‘It became the standard raincape kit…

These contest were held over two days at the Scotch College, Adelaide, South Australia, April 12 and 13. There was a strong entry in the lower grades but less so in the Clasp and Gold Medal events. The light music competitions constitute the Australian Solo Piping Championship held over four grades. The piobaireachd prizes do not contribute to the championship but are prestigious awards in their own right. All contests…

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…