By Robert Wallace Bagpipemakers and other musical instrument manufacturers have finally won their battle over the use of African blackwood (ABW). For almost three years UK pipe makers have had to apply for costly licences for every set of pipes they export outwith the EU. These costs have had to be passed on to customers.  An earlier announcement that restrictions were to be lifted last March was put on hold…

It was never warm, but when the sun broke through Braemar blossomed into a right royal gathering with thousands flocking to the Duke of Fife Memorial Park, writes the Editor. This small granite village in the Cairngorm National Park is always worth a visit even without the piping . At 10am my fellow judges and I settled down to a fairly good ceol mor competition. Inveraray Pipe Band had some…

The RSPBA have announced the following dates and venues for next year’s major championships. British Championships – 23rd May at Paisley United Kingdom Championships – 13th June at Lurgan European Championships – 27th June at Inverness Scottish Championships – 25th July at Dumbarton World Championships – 14th/15th August at Glasgow A thought occurred whilst listening to last week’s Clasp contest at Inverness, and one which was not included in my…

Callum Beaumont may be £1,000 better off this morning but those of us who heard his performance yesterday are richer by far. It may well be the best piobaireachd I have ever heard, if not, it is right up there. I refer to my notes: ‘No one will beat this; beautiful from start to finish; perfect pipe, subtlety, exemplary control’. Callum is pictured above on his way to glory before judges…

Someone on social media was asking about this picture. For those who don’t know, it is of the MacCrimmon Cairn at Borreraig on Skye. The piper is John MacFadyen and the listener Seton Gordon the writer, naturalist and piping judge. The occasion, early 1970s, would be the ‘penny and a piobaireachd’ ceremony which was organised annually (before my time) by the College of Piping. In return for the money and…