Author: Robert Wallace

Editor’s Notebook: John Weatherston/ Band Inactivity in Scotland/ Piob Soc Recital/ Dystonia Plea/ Duncan and the Prince

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Thanks to Yves Tison for this picture of P/M John Weatherston. Yves writes: ‘Further to your excellent Piping Press article on Red Hackle pipe band, I have found in my photos an old pic of Pipe Major John Weatherston at the Festival de Cornemuse in Brest, Brittany, in August 1969.’ Good picture Yves. Jock was in the habit of wrapping a sweat-catching handkerchief round his neck. The joys of piping…

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Argyllshire and Lochaber Gatherings Prove There is No Substitute for Live Piping

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Three days of ‘live’ piping. Yes, you read that correctly. You don’t know what you have until it is gone and this week’s gatherings reminded us all of what we have been missing. There was a genuine sense of relief, freedom, exuberance among the pipers at Oban and Fort William. And we listeners were able to enjoy our favourite music without transmission technology and its homogenising barrier. By Robert Wallace…

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Oban’s 150th Anniversary Games Complete Results (updated)

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A reduced games was held today at Mossfield Park, Oban. There were piping events for ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade March and Strathspey & Reel and Open Jig, with prizemoney similar to previous years. Thirty seven pipers entered, 21 in the ‘A’ grade and 16 in the ‘B’. During a break in proceedings AG piping convenors Jamie Mellor (l) and Torquil Telfer took time to present the College of Piping Trophy…

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Argyllshire Gathering 150th Anniversary Gathering Underway

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The day began in blazing sunshine with the march to the games.The gathering stewards were led by 35 competing pipers and Oban High School band under P/M Angus MacColl. A full raft of light music competitions is being held in both ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade. HRH The Princess Royal presented the Gathering Gold Medal to the winner Stuart Liddell:

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Duncan’s Tune for Dominic

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I recently reported that on a trip to Iona and its abbey I spotted this memorial bench (right in picture above) dedicated to a Dominic McGowan, writes the Editor. I thought this could be the same Dominic McGowan who died at a tragically young age and for whom Duncan Johnstone wrote his melodic and poignant 6/8 march. The dates fitted and I remembered him telling me about the origins of…

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