There are only three bands competing in Grade 1 at the UK Championships to be held at Ingliston near Edinburgh on July 12. They are Johnstone (pictured), Boghall and SLOT. No one should take any pleasure at this state of affairs. Next year the UKs need to be outwith the holiday period and definitely not on July 12. The first six bands in Grade 2 have been asked to carry…

I took a trip up Glen Strathfarrar a week ago to see the P/M Willie Ross cairn. It’s been in situ for about 15 years following the campaign by the late Finlay MacRae for a monument to his old tutor born in the glen at Camsorie. By The Editor A visit to the cairn should be on every piper’s bucket list. To get there take the A831 from near Beauly…

Steven Kinvig, Secretary, Kilsyth Thistle Pipe Band: The organisation of the Worlds for bands attending the event disappoints me each year. For most bands the location of where to park their coach, and in what zone is important, mobility issues etc. RSPBA and Glasgow Life are selling bus pass coded for colour but neither are able to identify the geographical location of any of the coloured zones. The person selling…

It is with sincere regret that I record the passing of Les Cowell of David Naill Bagpipes. He was 91 and had been ailing for some time. Les began his piping career in the Boys Brigade in London and as a junior picked up prizes in local contests. I remember him once coming to the College of Piping, digging out old copies of the Piping Times, there to find his…