Author: Robert Wallace

Editor’s Notebook: Johnstone Pipe Band/ 1923 Clasp/ John MacColl/ DJ Contest/ Colin’s Pipes

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We appreciate P/M Keith Bowes senior forwarding this picture of the Johnstone Pipe Band. It features Pipe Major Craigie Calder, author of the recently reported tape featuring information on Bob Reid and a short excerpt of John MacColl’s playing. Keith tells me that the band was formed in 1943 during WW2 its purpose being to march Home Guard units round the town raising morale and money. Those in the picture…

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Editor’s Notebook: Piobaireachd Society Conference/ Three Tenors/ Ian Green/ Northern Meeting/ Band News

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Places are filling up well for next weekend’s Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference, March 22 – 24 in the Royal George Hotel, Perth. Fees are £200 for a single room and £300 for a double. This includes two nights bed and breakfast, and lunch and dinner on the Saturday. Day tickets are £15 and include lunch. We will meet on the Friday for informal drinks, a meal and perhaps a tune or…

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The Day Ross and Reid Tied for the Clasp and a Recording of the Great John MacColl

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A trawl through my old audio archives has turned up a remarkable recording made by one Craigie Calder, a former P/M of the Johnstone Pipe Band in 1984, writes the Editor. The tape was give to me by Ian Sinclair formerly of the College of Piping Veteran Pipers Society. Ian knew Craigie well and played with him in the band. One of the regular tutors of the Johnstone pipers was…

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Uist & Barra 2024 Review: Giving Tunes a Week Early Does Not Help Pipers or Listeners

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Most highlights of the day came in a four hour period between 9am and 1pm when the ten invited pipers performed their piobaireachd. They had been given their chosen tunes, selected by the promoters from six submitted, a week in advance. I’m not sure this is a good idea. Yes, it allows a programme with prescribed tunes to be printed (costly and is it really necessary?) and it reduces the…

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Uist & Barra 2024 Results

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This competition was held today, March 9, at the old College of Piping building in Otago Street, Glasgow. Pipers were given their tunes one week in advance. There was a large and appreciative audience throughout the day. Ten invited pipers competed. Ceòl Mòr, Glasgow Highland Club Medal1 Callum Beaumont, £220, (above), Donald Gruamach’s March2 William McCallum, £175, Earl of Ross’s March3 Alasdair Henderson, £110, Bells of Perth4 Iain Speirs, £85, Nameless-Cherede…

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