Author: Robert Wallace

Editor’s Notebook: William Fraser & Bob Brown/ Desperate Battle Event/ Newtonards Contest/ Weekend Solos

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

I discovered this old picture in a rummage through the PP library. It is of one William Fraser the man who started Bob Brown on the chanter. Little did he know the favour he was doing piping. Brown went on to have further lessons from P/M George Allan [he of the Donald MacLeod hornpipe] and then John MacDonald, Inverness, and the rest you know, or should know. Jimmy McIntosh’s excellent…

More Editor’s Notebook: William Fraser & Bob Brown/ Desperate Battle Event/ Newtonards Contest/ Weekend Solos

Review: UK Pipe Band Championships

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

In many respects the Royal Highland Show grounds at Ingliston are ideal for a pipe band championship. Plenty of space for tuning, parking. However the site is very exposed. Wind and rain and there would be a distinct lack of shelter. Fortunately last Saturdays UK Championships were held in perfect conditions: bright sunshine with a cooling breeze. Engine noise from the nearby Edinburgh Airport was a minimal distraction. By Robert…

More Review: UK Pipe Band Championships

Editor’s Notebook: Champion of Champions/ Glass Chanter/ Ross Miller/ Inveraray Draw/ Book Search

Posted on      by      2 Comments

My view is that the RSPBA should have cancelled the Grade 1 contest at the Ingliston UKs tomorrow. It really is no contest at all when there are only three bands taking part. Nor does it do these bands any favours guaranteeing them Champion of Champions points for turning up. Should they place well in the final CoC tables they will always be condemned for their ‘UK appearance points’. No,…

More Editor’s Notebook: Champion of Champions/ Glass Chanter/ Ross Miller/ Inveraray Draw/ Book Search

Cyril Hall, Zimbabwe

Posted on      by      6 Comments

I rose this morning to learn of the passing of Cyril Hall, Zimbabwe. His friend Aiton Shepherd wrote from Western Australia: ‘Cyril died last night in Mutare.  ‘His eldest son, Bobby, who lives here in Perth, phoned with the sad news. I admit to a few tears. The attached photo [above] was taken by Craig Sked a few years ago at the 100 Guineas solo piping competition in Johannesburg.  By the…

More Cyril Hall, Zimbabwe

Pipers and Tunes at Piobaireachd Society Recital

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The Piobaireachd Society’s annual recital will take place in St Cecilia’s Hall, Niddry Street, Edinburgh, on August 10. It is a black tie event for the pipers and the time is 7 for 7.30pm. The beauty of the recital, entitled ‘Classical Pipe Music – Scotland’s Hidden Treasure’, is that there is no break in sound throughout; there is no tuning in the auditorium, one piobaireachd flows seamlessly into the next….

More Pipers and Tunes at Piobaireachd Society Recital