Author: Robert Wallace

Cyril Hall, Zimbabwe

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I rose this morning to learn of the passing of Cyril Hall, Zimbabwe. His friend Aiton Shepherd wrote from Western Australia: ‘Cyril died last night in Mutare.  ‘His eldest son, Bobby, who lives here in Perth, phoned with the sad news. I admit to a few tears. The attached photo [above] was taken by Craig Sked a few years ago at the 100 Guineas solo piping competition in Johannesburg.  By the…

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Pipers and Tunes at Piobaireachd Society Recital

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The Piobaireachd Society’s annual recital will take place in St Cecilia’s Hall, Niddry Street, Edinburgh, on August 10. It is a black tie event for the pipers and the time is 7 for 7.30pm. The beauty of the recital, entitled ‘Classical Pipe Music – Scotland’s Hidden Treasure’, is that there is no break in sound throughout; there is no tuning in the auditorium, one piobaireachd flows seamlessly into the next….

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Editor’s Notebook: Pipers’ Persuasion/ RSPBA Judges/ McIntosh Scholarship/ Iain Dall Memorial/ Bagad New York

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Allan Hamilton has announced the last of his Pipers’ Persuasion interviews. What a service to piping he has provided. Beginning in 2010, he set about interviewing and filming noted figures in the piping world. Many provided a fascinating insight into what made them tick, how they achieved their success. Now after 15 years and more than 100 interviews, Allan has hung up his camera and microphone. He says. ‘I thoroughly…

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Piobaireachd Study on Skye

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The Piobaireachd Society Summer School ended last weekend. It was the fourth time we had travelled to Skye for the week-long class. We had 25 students. They came from the Phillipines, Thailand, USA, Canada, Liverpool, the isles of Bute and Mull, the Borders, Bellshill, Norwich, Glasgow, London, Aberdeen, Caithness, Austria, Germany and Brittany. They all appreciated the accommodation and food at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic College on the Sleat…

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Editor’s Notebook: UK Championships/ Piping Live/ SPA AGM/ Scots Guards KO/ Northern Winter School

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There are only three bands competing in Grade 1 at the UK Championships to be held at Ingliston near Edinburgh on July 12. They are Johnstone (pictured), Boghall and SLOT. No one should take any pleasure at this state of affairs. Next year the UKs need to be outwith the holiday period and definitely not on July 12. The first six bands in Grade 2 have been asked to carry…

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