Editor’s Notebook: Ten Years After – A Decade of Piping Journalism

Just over ten years ago saw the start of Piping Press, the online continuation of our Piper Press magazine. The latter was taken over by the Piping Times in 1999. I then edited the PT for 15 years before departing Otago Street in 2014. Much has happened during the decade including the regrettable, though predictable, demise of the PT and the College of Piping. Four years ago we had the…

Disturbing Legal Action in Canada/ Ken Eller Memorial Gathering

Some of you will be aware that our Canadian piping and drumming cousins are currently involved in a bit of a brouhaha. On the one side we have a disgruntled judge who believes he has been unfairly treated after alleged transgressions. On the other we have the governing body, Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario, which believes that, in taking what it saw as the required disciplinary action, it…

Editor’s Notebook: RSPBA Fundraiser Job/ Sun Belt Info/ Historic Piper of Year Pictures/ Letters

The decision by the RSPBA to appoint a fund-raising officer is long overdue. Given the millions the Association brings into Scotland each year via the Worlds and feeder events such Piping Live and the Worlds Week concert, it has a strong ethical case for public funding. Given the work bands do in education and in preserving an important Scottish tradition, the new man should be able to tap into cultural…

Legendary Boys Brigade Company Honoured with a Civic Reception in Home City

Last Friday my old Boys Brigade Company, the 214th Glasgow, was honoured with a Civic Reception from the city to mark 100 years since the company’s founding. It was held in the City Chambers off George Square. Glasgow has deserved much of the recent criticism of its roads, litter, shop closures…but you cannot complain about the City Chambers. If you have never visited you must. There won’t be finer marble…

Dr Hugh Parker Dinwoodie, General Practitioner, Piper and Climber

Born on this day in 1930, Dr Dinwoodie, who died last year, was a member of the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society and a lifelong supporter of the Piobaireachd Society. This touching tribute was written by his son Colin….. There is never a good time to begin writing of a parents’ passing, and until now I have felt unable to keep pace with life and prepare this for my father, a…