To Argyll today for the Intermediate Piping Championship at romantic Lochnell Castle. The contest brings together some of our finest young talent all aged under 22. It gladdens the heart when you hear them play. You know the tradition is in good hands. We read so much about youngsters only being interested in the kitchen piping, folk groups and bands. But these fellows are made of sterner stuff, its heavy…

It’s not often you get three such giants of piping in the same informal photograph. It shows P/M Ronnie Lawrie and his wife Anne on their wedding day in 1955. All pipers will recognise the piper on the left as Arthur Gillies, and on the right, Duncan Johnstone. The bridesmaid was Anne’s friend Mona Byrne. ‘Big’ Ronnie was born in 1927 and died in 2008. He was the gentlest of…

There has been quite a lot of overheated speculation about the Worlds and Nat Russell, most of it rather wide of the mark. I have gathered considerable information on what actually happened and what Mr Russell’s placings were but cannot in all honesty share it with you. Nothing would be gained by such exposure. Nat Russell is a Worlds-winning Pipe Major. He is a senior adjudicator with 60 years dedication…