Author: Robert Wallace

Germany’s Northern Winter Competition Continues to Grow in Stature

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

One hundred and forty pipers and drummers converged on the German city of Bremen at the weekend for the Northern Winter Competition, writes the Editor. Organised by the Bagpipe Association of Germany, it was a triumph of efficiency and balance: camaraderie, fierce competition in equal measure. Judges were myself, Barry Donaldson, Peter Hunt and Allan MacDonald. There were solos at every level and quintets for bands. This last worked particularly…

More Germany’s Northern Winter Competition Continues to Grow in Stature

Editor’s Notebook: Singer Pipe Band/ Solo Judging/ Stirling Recital and Contest/ NZ National Youth Pipe Band

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Thanks to reader David Moore for the above picture of Singer Pipe Band, Clydebank. David was mentioned in last week’s article along with two other ex-members, George McEwan and Murdo MacLean. David writes: I knew both George and Murdo well as we all lived in the same area along with many other Singer employees. George and myself played with Pipe Major Maurice Pert at Duthie Park, Aberdeen, in 1970 winning…

More Editor’s Notebook: Singer Pipe Band/ Solo Judging/ Stirling Recital and Contest/ NZ National Youth Pipe Band

Editor’s Notebook: Uist & Barra/ Airdrie Recital/ London Irish Rifles/ Singer Pipe Band/

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The first major solo contest of the year, the Uist & Barra Invitational, has been confirmed for March 7. As before, it will be held at the Piping Centre in Otago Street. The competition is under new management and it looks as though they have hit the ground running. Invites to a dozen or so pipers have already been sent out and they are merit-based. They include both 2025 Gold…

More Editor’s Notebook: Uist & Barra/ Airdrie Recital/ London Irish Rifles/ Singer Pipe Band/

P/M Iain Macey 1955-2025

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

We report the passing of Pipe Major Iain Macey, a well-known professional competitor in the 1980s and 90s. He was 70. Iain was from the north east of Scotland and joined the Gordon Highlanders in 1971. His early instruction was from Major John Allan and Captain Andrew Pitkeathly at the Army School of Piping, Edinburgh Castle. He passed his Pipe Majors’ Certificate with distinction in 1978. He later moved to…

More P/M Iain Macey 1955-2025

Editor’s Notebook: Cowal Gathering/ Solo Judging/ Clan MacRae Comment/ New Year

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Yesterday’s story on the founding of the SPBA mentioned the current relationship between pipe bands and Cowal Games. Correspondent Ian Forbes sums things up well: ‘The demise of the Cowal Pipe Band Championships is an historic and cultural tragedy in the world of piping. ‘From 1906 and for over 40 years, Dunoon hosted the ‘unofficial’ world pipe band championships, as part of the Cowal Highland Gathering. Hundreds of  thousands of…

More Editor’s Notebook: Cowal Gathering/ Solo Judging/ Clan MacRae Comment/ New Year