Alan Cardwell has kindly forwarded the above picture of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Pipe Band in 1977 featuring his father, the late Denver. The band is pictured with its first Chairman, Chief Constable Sir John Hermon. Alan tells me the band’s first practice of that year took place on February 9th. If anyone has any more on the founding of the band, now known as the Police Service of Northern…

Very sorry to hear of the passing of Dr Bruce Thomson, writes the Editor. Bruce was a noted composer, his most famous tune being the 2/4 march Tommy MacDonald of Barguilean. I remember sitting next to Bruce at the Shotts Worlds Week concert several years ago when P/M Robert Mathieson asked him to stand take a bow before the band launched into the tune. Hundreds in the audience turned to…

By Robert Wallace I had the pleasure of attending the Scottish Schools’ Combined Cadet Force Piobaireachd Championship last Friday evening (Jan 17) to judge the senior section. The host was Merchiston Castle School, one of the most prestigious in the country and one which prides itself on the quality of its bagpipe tuition. Nine young men were forward and it really was heartening to hear their efforts. They were a…

Since its inception over 100 years ago – celebrated at that special ceremony on January 10 – the SPA has studiously stuck to its rules of providing open annual competition for all levels of piping: juvenile, amateur and professional. In the following picture galleries you will see some of the many winners over the years, and don’t be surprised if you notice a few changes in appearance. What is clear…

One wonders if the Scottish Government will mirror last week’s committment in England and Wales: ‘Ministers have pledged £80 million to ensure all children have access to music lessons and can leave school able to read and write music.’ Don’t hold your breath. At the moment it is up to cash-strapped Scottish local authorities to deem how much of their education budget can be spent on music. In most it is…