Editor’s Notebook: Malcolm Ferguson and Remembrance Sunday/ Piper Poem/ City Mural/ Kiwi Film

Malcolm Ferguson’s grandson Colin Moulson has responded to our request for a picture. ‘Sadly we do not believe we have any of him in uniform or in whatever bands he was in post war. ‘The attached does however show some of his action in the First World War. He had a bullet lodged in his neck from being shot (on which occasion we are not sure) whilst leading troops to…

US Junior Solo Piping & Drumming Championships

The 18th ‘Balmoral Classic’ Championship was held on November 2, 2024, in the Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. PIPING OVERALL (15 competitors)1 Alex Pavlovic (Bellaire, Texas)2 Abby Long  (Houston, Texas)3 Mihir Zambre (Pearland, Texas)4 Andrew Zhao (Sugarland, Texas)5 Magnus Stone (Natick, Massachusetts)6 Ray Flanagan (Grand Rapids, Michigan) PIOBAIREACHD1 Alex Pavlovic2 Abby Long3 Magnus Stone4 Mihir Zambre5 Ray Flanagan6 Andrew Zhao MSR1 Andrew Zhao2 Alex Pavlovic3 Mihir Zambre4 Abby…

Editor’s Notebook: Malcolm Ferguson/ Euros and Worlds Confirmed/ Scots Guards KO/ BB Reception/ Iain Glass/ Piper Poem

Response to yesterday’s Malcolm Ferguson tune riddle: ‘My name is Colin Moulson and my late grandfather, Pipe Major Malcolm Ferguson who died in 1981, was very close friends with ‘wee’ Donald MacLeod for many years. ‘It has always been a source of great pride to all the family that he had a tune dedicated to him by not only his great friend Donald but by a man who happened to…

Scots Guards Knock Out – Round One

I think it must have been the Scottish Pipers’ Association who started the ‘knock-out’ competition, two pipers play, the audience picking a winner who progresses to the next round. The famous final of the ’60s when Duncan Johnston defeated Donald MacLeod is still talked about in these parts. And I remember being robbed in the SPA final myself when playing against P/M Angus. By Robert Wallace Well it’s another guardsman…

Editor’s Notebook: John McLellan DCM/ Band Regradings/ Weekend Solos/ Pinkman Collection/ Aussies Adopt PS Set Tunes

Reader Yahya Hussein on the above picture: ‘That rather rare photo was taken right after WW1. His medal bar shows his Great War medal trio, the 1914-1918 Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. ‘That is alongside his Queen’s South African Medal along with his famous DCM won in South Africa when rallying his battalion as they were being cut to pieces by the boers at Magersfontein in…