Earlier this year our Editor commented on the lack of support given to minor contests by some bands. Ian Graham, Pipe Band Convenor at Pitlochry Highland Games, has responded below. The picture above shows Pitlochry Games massed bands in the 1970s.  I refer to your recent correspondent who wrote lamenting the diminishing amount of major bands attending local Highland Games. Your correspondent specifically cited Pitlochry Highland Games as an example, and…

A parent has raised questions about access arrangements for the forthcoming Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships. The Championships are growing in popularity attracting dozens of bands and hundreds of followers to the annual event.  Indeed the promoters, the Scottish Schools Pipe & Drum Trust, say next year’s contest, to be held on March 10 will be the biggest yet with an estimated 150 bands taking part. The venue is Inveralmond Community…

In his new book, author Damien Lewis recounts the exploits of the SAS and David ‘The Mad Piper’ Kirkpatrick and his role in Operation Tombola in northern Italy during WW2, an operation which saw him parachute behind enemy lines wearing his regimental kilt…….. ‘Legendary SAS commander Major Roy Farran had put in a special request for what he saw as his secret weapon – a youthful Scottish piper in the…

This final video from the 1995 Northern Meeting is by cameraman Owen Nash, Manchester. It features pipers playing in the final of the Hornpipe & Jig contest that year. They are Scott Drummond, Michael Elder, Allan Russell, and Gordon Duncan. There is a shot of the judges Messrs. Ronnie Morrison, Jimmy Young and Donald MacPherson. Thanks again to John Don MacKenzie for the programme from the Argyllshire Gathering in 1990,…

Mr Bruce Cargill of the RSPBA Music Board has announced the following regradings: Grade 4B to Grade 4A Stockbridge Grade 4A to Grade 3B Kilmarnock Pipe Band (pictured above) Grade 3A to Grade 2 Portlethan and District A new band, Highland Granite, were granted Grade 2 status. These gradings add to the changes already announced in September: Novice Juvenile B to Novice Juvenile A Saint John’s College (Zimbabwe) North Lanarkshire…