More Thoughts on the New Legislation Protecting African Blackwood

The thousands of readers of our article on the new protection legislation for African blackwood bears testament to the interest the piping community has in preserving the wood that is the source of our pleasure – but also to the radical impact it will have on the bagpipe making industry, writes the Editor. The response from that industry has been one of gratitude for the information and resignation that things,…

Pipes For Sale/ More on Duncan Lamont, Pennycross, Mull

Two sets of D Naill pipes offered for sale today at very reasonable prices. The first set comes complete with an old Peter Henderson silver sole on the chanter alone worth £500. The seller has inherited another quality set hence the reason for the sale. Check our PP Online Ads for more. More on Duncan Lamont mentioned in our report on the British Legion contest the other day. It comes from…

Latest Information on New Regulations Governing the Manufacture of African Blackwood Pipes

By Robert Wallace We now have further information from the UK Government on the changes to the law surrounding the future manufacture of pipes from African blackwood. Within the European Union sales of finished goods will be unaffected; not so elsewhere. From January 2nd, 2017, African blackwood, melanoxylon dalbergia, will be listed on Appendix 2 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Owing…

History: The British Legion Contest 1969 Part 2

As I said in our first look at this competition from nearly half a century ago, the programme contains some candid thoughts and interesting comments, writes the Editor. This first part may bring a lump to the throat of many an old soldier who reads it, and in this year of the Somme centenary we should remember that in 1969 many who fought there would still be around to relive the…

PP Ed’s Blog: Judging Debacle/ NPC Juniors/ Martin at New Year/ Boghall Concert/ Blackthorn

The interesting aspect of the Argyllshire Gathering’s statement on the recent judges debacle is the very fact that they were prepared to say anything at all. Reading between the lines they clearly have misgivings about this shameful ruling, a ruling based on no evidence but which implicitly (perhaps explicitly) deems that there has been corruption in the past and that the judges themselves have admitted it. Oban have said they will…