Author: Robert Wallace

Review of the 2026 Uist & Barra Professional

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Pity those who weren’t at Otago Street last Saturday for the 79th Annual Uist & Barra Professional. We heard two piobaireachd that would have won any competition anywhere – and I’m talking senior events at Oban/ Inverness – and some flowing ceòl beag that wasn’t to be sniffed at either. By Robert Wallace The two tunes I mention were from Callum Beaumont and Finlay Johnston. There wasn’t a gossamer strand…

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Editor’s Notebook: Uist & Barra/ Judges Training/ Glasgow Skye/ Lochaber Juniors/ Watson’s Results

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To Otago Street tomorrow for the Uist & Barra. A stellar line up of top pipers should guarantee some excellent music. Those playing are Callum Beaumont, Calum Brown, Sandy Cameron, Ben Duncan, Jamie Forrester, Finlay Johnson, Steven Leask, Angus MacColl, Sarah Muir, Connor Sinclair, and Brodie Watson-Massey. New Piping Convenor, Innes Scullion, tells me that the invites have all been based on a transparent list of qualifying events – just…

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Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band in the 1970s

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Thanks to reader Peter Reilly for forwarding the above picture. It is of the famous Dysart & Dondonald pictured during rehearsals for the Worlds at either Corby in 1975 or Nottingham in 1979, writes the Editor. We are trying to confirm the date and identify all of those pictured. There is also a suggestion that Dysart won the Worlds drum corps title at Corby. All information gratefully received. Please reply…

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Rare Recording of P/M Donald MacLeod – Part 2

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More from maestro P/M Donald MacLeod in these excerpts from the historic recording made at an impromptu recital given in Seattle, WA, in 1955 whilst Donald was on a tour of the western US and Canada. I reckon Donald would have been in his early 30s at the time of the recital. On leaving the Army he joined the firm of Grainger and Campbell in Glasgow with John MacFadyen as…

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Rare Recording of Pipe Major Donald MacLeod from 75 Years Ago

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We are grateful to Jack Lee of British Columbia, Canada, for forwarding this historic recording of Pipe Major Donald MacLeod, writes the editor. It was made in Seattle, WA, in 1955 whilst Donald was on a tour of the western US and Canada. At the time he was still a serving soldier based at Fort George near at Inverness. As can be heard in the introduction, the recital was impromptu,…

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