Jimmy McIntosh MBE 1925 – 2021

It is with sincere regret we announce the passing of one of the most influential pipers of the 20th century, Jimmy McIntosh MBE. He was 95. Jimmy passed away peacefully at his home in South Carolina after being cared for in his final days by his wife Joyce and son Cameron. Jimmy was born and brought up in Broughty Ferry near Dundee and was sent off to the Army when…

Editor’s Notebook: Schools Teaching/ Duncan MacLellan/ Auction Pipes/ Paterson’s Publications

We should temper our reading of this week’s story on the introduction of school’s piping instructors almost 50 years ago with the unpleasant fact that not all appointments were a success. I could name three or four tutors from back then who were just not up to the job. Many children suffered from the negligence and incompetence of these poor teachers. Worse, public employee union tape meant they could not…

Editor’s Notebook: William’s Tune Search/ PS Newsletter/ Amazing Grace/ Patrick’s Tune/ 1975 Results

This touching story is from Andy McCartney of the South West Scotland Pipe & Drum Academy: ‘Just prior to the beginning of lockdown in 2020, William Marchant a 9-year-old pupil at Penpont Primary School, started chanter lessons with me. They were done via the internet to his home. ‘Both William’s dad and his grandfather are pipers, so it seemed natural that William would also want to play pipes. He was…

Let Your Bagpipe Help You Rise Above the Turmoil

Thirteen years ago we were going through another major crisis – the financial crash. Fortunes were lost; governments in a panic; western capitalism on the brink. At the time I penned a piece which suggested how we pipers could cope. I’ve updated it for our current ordeal…. The nights are darkly dim. Black forces rattle on the window pane. The insidious virus threatens to wrest the porridge spoon of prosperity…

Editor’s Notebook: Henderson Pipes/ Pipe Band Season/ Iain Murdo/ Rutherglen PB/ Lady Piper Podcast

Notice anything strange about this pic? Check out the bass drone. This was how the pipes were pictured in an auction catalogue by a Devon-based company. They were expected to go for £60 – £80 but sold for close on £6,000. The auction house and the seller clearly knew next to nothing about the national instrument yet the blurb read: ‘An important set of bagpipes have found their way home…