British Pipe Band Championships Results

Scottish Power Pipe Band were declared the new British Pipe Band Champions today at a sun-drenched St James Playing Fields in Paisley. The other G1 places went to: 2 Inveraray 3 FMM 4 SLoT 5 Boghall 6 Fife Police with the drumming going to: Inveraray. Each band had to submit two Medleys, one of which was chosen at the line. The judges in Grade 1 were Robert Mathieson (ensemble), Robert Shaw…

British Pipe Band Championships Underway in Glorious Sunshine

The first major championship of the pipe band season, the British, are underway at the St James Playing Fields, Paisley, with 126 bands vying for honours across all grades. The RSPBA’s superb team of judges, stewards and officials were on duty from early morning and the first band performance begins at 10am. Grade 1 begins at 2pm, the bands playing in the following order: 1 Buchan Peterson 2 Glasgow Skye 3…

Composer Charles MacLeod Williamson As I Knew Him

The following has been received from Steve Connor in Toronto in response to a recent letter regarding the composer Charles MacLeod Williamson.  It gives a fascinating insight into the composer’s character and musical inspiration…… By Steve Connor, Toronto I am responding to your enquiry about Charles MacLeod Williamson. I live in Canada now but knew Charlie probably better than anyone in the piping scene in the 1980s and into the…

Jimmy McIntosh, DR’s Scrapbook and the Day John MacFadyen Did the Double

I spent yesterday afternoon with Jimmy McIntosh who, with his wife Joyce, is on a three-week visit to the UK. Jimmy, now in his 90s, continues to amaze everyone with his energy and enthusiasm for piping. He is a firm believer in the adage ‘don’t count the days; make every day count’ and is currently involved in a number of projects, which, with Joyce’s valuable support, I am sure he…

RSPBA Announce Draw for European Championships

The RSPBA have announced the draw for the European Pipe Band Championships to be held at Forres, Morayshire, on June 30. The full Grade 1 draw and judges are as follows: Grade 1 – Final 1 14:15 Police Scotland Fife (pictured) 2 14:25 Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia 3 14:35 Buchan Peterson 4 14:45 Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles 5 14:55 Vale of Atholl 6 15:05 Scottish Power 7 15:15 Inveraray and District…