Author: Robert Wallace

Editor’s Notebook: PPBSO Archive/ RSPBA Chief/ Donald Cameron/ Finlay Drynan/ Captain John

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New President Michael Grey has certainly rejuvenated Ontario’s Piping and Pipe Band Society. There’s now new archive material from the Society’s archives available, his latest Newsletter tells me. Above is film of the innovative Vale of Atholl band under P/M Ian Duncan from the North American Championships at Maxville in 1988. The blurb reads: ‘This is the last of nine bands to play on Saturday, July 30, 1988. The Vale…

More Editor’s Notebook: PPBSO Archive/ RSPBA Chief/ Donald Cameron/ Finlay Drynan/ Captain John

Thirty-two Long Months and the Pandemic Nighmare is Finally Put Behind Us (Updated with Full Results )

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It fell to the Kilbarchan pipe band to sound the first note played in anger on a pipe band contest field for almost three years. With that first introductory E this band of 17 pipers swept away months of moribundity and declared ‘the pipe band movement is back’! The occasion was the Gourock Highland Games contest held at the weekend at Battery Park, Greenock. I arrived early just as tents…

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Editor’s Notebook: Farewell to the Creeks/ Dan’s Book/ Rolf Obliers/ Williamsburg USA/ Inverness 1970

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I read somewhere on the internet the other day of a new recording by Jack Lee of JB Robertson’s [sic] 6/8 march, Farewell to the Creeks. It’s a common mistake but the tune was of course written by James Robertson, Banff, Gordon Highlander, and not the famous Scots Guardsman. Robertson Banff was the teacher of my late comrade Joe Wilson and we have covered Joe’s early life with his teacher…

More Editor’s Notebook: Farewell to the Creeks/ Dan’s Book/ Rolf Obliers/ Williamsburg USA/ Inverness 1970

In Praise of……..the Piobaireachd Society

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The latest of my Newsletters to members of the Piobaireachd Society was issued this week. Two significant figures pop out: 1 We now have almost 1,000 members; 2 This financial year we will be giving away circa. £15,000 to help piping bounce back from the deleterious effects of the pandemic. By Robert Wallace I think that commendable. If we combine the numbers it means that roughly speaking the entire annual…

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Editor’s Notebook: Talk Piobaireachd/ SPA Entries/ Aberdeen Art/ Games in 1937 and P/M John Slattery

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A treat tonight for members of the Piobaireachd Society with the celebrated Bill Livingstone delivering the final ‘Talk Piobaireachd’ of the 2021-22 season. Time is 8pm BST (GMT+1) and Bill will be talking about and demonstrating two of his favourite tunes, Lament for the Earl of Antrim and In Praise of Morag. Bill, who recently enjoyed his 80th birthday, was one of the great pioneers of Canadian piping, proving that…

More Editor’s Notebook: Talk Piobaireachd/ SPA Entries/ Aberdeen Art/ Games in 1937 and P/M John Slattery