The General Committee of the Piobaireachd Society has taken the decision to postpone the 2020 conference due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Conference was due to be held in the National Piping Centre in Glasgow next Saturday, March 21. PS President Robert Wallace said: ‘Holding the Conference in the circumstances was considered unwise and we have taken the decision to postpone it. ‘Further arrangements for the Conference and AGM will…

The death has been reported of Alex Dalziel, Chief Steward for the RSPBA. Alex was 72 and attended the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship last Sunday in an unofficial capacity before taking ill. He was an Honorary Life Member of the Association and from West Lothian. Both Alex and his wife Wilma have been linked to the Association’s Lothian & Borders Branch since their first involvement with pipe bands. Alex was…

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…