Category: Bagpipes

PP Audio Archive Addition/ Hugh MacCallum Recording

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New addition to the PP Audio Archive today with the playing of Donald MacPherson in the Former Winners’ MSR at the Argyllshire Gathering in the early 1970s.  Once more we are indebted to Breton piper Patrick Molard for sharing his archive with the rest of piping community worldwide. The recordings were done on a reel-to-reel tape machine whilst Patrick stood at the side of the competition board. Donald’s playing is…

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PP Editor’s Blog: Willie’s Funeral/ Willie Ross/ Frazer’s Gesture/New Letters etc.

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The funeral of Willie McCallum Senior will be held on Saturday, 16 April, at 1pm at Highland Parish Church, Campbeltown.  Willie (87) passed away after collapsing after attending the Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Willie was an unfailing servant of piping, though not a player himself. He was instrumental in establishing the Kintyre Piping Society and dedicated himself to its promotion over a 60 year period….

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Record Entry for British Pipe Band Championships

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The number of bands scheduled to compete at the British Pipe Band Championships next month is a record for the competition. A total of 147 bands have entered for the contest which will be held for the first time at St James Playing Fields near Paisley, a town few miles to the south and west of Glasgow, on May 21. Usually around 110 – 120 would take part in the competition,…

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History: Roderick MacDonald and His Pupil Kenneth MacDonald

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John MacPhee, former President of the Glasgow Uist & Barra Association, has kindly supplied an old cutting from the Oban Times newspaper from 1959. It features well known post war tutor and piper Roddy MacDonald and the late Kenny MacDonald.  Their story reads: ‘One of the happiest men in Scotland is Roderick MacDonald, a Glasgow policeman and tutor to Kenneth MacDonald and this year’s winner of the Highland Society of…

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Willie McCallum Snr., Campbeltown

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The death has been announced of one of the best known gentlemen in the solo piping world, Willie McCallum Snr., Campbeltown. Willie (87) passed away after collapsing after attending the Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, where his son William placed second in the competition. He was pictured at the event only hours before taking ill. Willie McCallum was a dedicated servant of piping, though not a…

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