Author: Robert Wallace

New Pipe Band Competition for Renfrew

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The local council report…. Renfrew’s Robertson Park will welcome some of Scotland’s top piping talent this July for a new event in Renfrewshire’s events calendar, The inaugural Renfrew Pipe Band Competition, taking place on Saturday 23 July, will see pipers and drummers from across Scotland fill the town with the sound of bagpipes and the beat of drums. The free-to-attend event brings a full day of family entertainment to the…

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SLOT Pull Out of All Irelands/ Band Sizes/ Ulster Championships

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St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band have informed the Irish Pipe Band Association of their need to withdraw from the All Ireland Pipe Band Championships, due to take place in New Ross, Co. Wexford tomorrow. The band has suffered an outbreak of covid this week with a significant number of players testing positive with others displaying symptoms. The band reported: ‘We were looking forward to defending our title which we won…

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It Is Time We Addressed the Issue of Pipe Band Sizes

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I had this message from Ken Stewart, Northern Ireland, the other day: ‘I just stumbled on an old programme of the European Championships in Stranraer 1989. There were 24 bands playing in Grade 1 and 34 in Grade 2. It is startling just how many of these bands are on longer operational.’ Indeed it is Ken. There is a decline and it is creeping up on us. And don’t use the…

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Editor’s Notebook: Worlds Prices/ SPA Meeting/ PS Summer School/ Festival of Junior Piping/ Luss Games

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Tickets are now on sale for the Worlds and already there has been a frisson of discontent regarding spectator prices. One reader has written: ‘I have noticed that tickets for the Worlds have just gone on sale on the Tickets (theworlds.co.uk) ‘I am a little shocked at the various add-ons to the face value of the ticket, thus…. A 12% booking fee will be added to all tickets A £1…

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Editor’s Notebook: Teaching At the Highest Level is the Only Answer to Decline/ Atlantic Canada Challenge

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Michael Grey, the invigorating new President of Ontario’s Piping and Pipe Band Society, lamented on social media the decline of bands and piping in his province. Mike’s bout of mild depression was occasioned by his perusal of an old programme from 1972 of the Canadian National Exhibition Intercontinental Gathering held in Toronto. Ontario then was second only to Scotland in the piping empire. Dozens of bands in every grade. Top…

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