It is with regret we report the passing of Angus Lawrie formerly of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, noted composer and pipe bag maker. Angus (88) died at home in Doonfoot, Ayrshire, yesterday morning. He had been in poor health for some time. Angus was originally taught by his father, also Angus, who had had extensive tuition from P/M Willie Ross. On leaving school Angus jnr. joined Glasgow Police in 1955…

Christmas has come early for UK bagpipemakers with the announcement that from March next year they will not have to apply for a Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) certificate for every instrument they sell. The ruling, in place since January 2017, meant that all manufacturers had to charge up to £60 on each set to pay for a licence to export their African blackwood (ABW) pipes. The process…

The Editor writes: Following yesterday’s Vale news I wonder if there will be sufficient Grade 1 bands at the Worlds to justify the Friday Qualifier? Possibly not.  We’ve recently had three bands downgraded from Grade 1: Denny & Dunipace Gleneagles, Buchan Peterson and Cap Caval. I understand that no New Zealand bands will be coming over next year nor will Toronto Police – and we have already had the sad news of…

My point on Monday about the quality of timing and phrasing in P/M Donald MacLeod’s 6/8 march can be illustrated by comparing this recording with Donald’s playing: This is from a leading prizewinning piper who shall remain nameless. Click here to brush up your 6/8s. Here’s an excerpt from the article: ‘The left and right beats are shown clearly. We give a little more to the left than we do to…