I arrived late for the 75th Annual Uist & Barra Professional Piping contest held at the Piping Centre in Otago Street, Glasgow, last Saturday, writes the editor. Right away I was called on to help with the heating. The main hall of what was the College of Piping is particularly well insulated and needs very little to warm it up. Thermostat sorted I took my seat to listen to the…

It is with sadness that we report the sudden passing of Frank Andrews, former Pipe Major of MacNeilstown Pipe Band in Northern Ireland. Frank died suddenly at home last night after collapsing. As drone tuner in chief for Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band he was an integral part of Richard Parkes’s championship winning team. Frank will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He is pictured in the above…

Covid -19: It is too early to get drastic but all pipers must observe with more vigilance than ever the normal hygiene practices associated with our instrument. Keep that practice chanter clean, wash out the blowstick and bag with warm water and mild disinfectant. Don’t swap and share. Will there may soon be a need for pipe majors to use antiseptic wipes every time they test a chanter or tune…

By Robert Wallace I remember the day well. It was Aberdeen 1970. The Worlds. Shotts first Muirheads second in Grade 1. Apart from Shotts’ big win (Hills of Alva or Peter MacKenzie Warren set?) what was significant was that they had done so playing a medley, not an MSR. The conspiracy theorists back then said John MacAllister had worked his magic with the RSPBA to get them to change the…

The Florida Pipe & Drum Academy concluded after an excellent week of study and good fun – shame about the weather, cold and wet to begin with, writes Robert Wallace. We spent the last day of the trip at the North East Florida Highland Games where it was good to catch up with piping judges John Bottomley, John Rechnagel, Al MacMullin, Jim Dillahey and Bill Caudill, and they kindly invited…