Editor’s Notebook: Old Recordings & Jeannie Book/ Mull Games/ Neil Clark/ Worlds Tickets

Reader Michael Dunn has alerted me to his excellent collection of early, re-mastered, piping recordings. Click on the picture of Willie Ross to hear the maestro play Captain Norman Orr Ewing and the link below for many other tunes. There’s music from the likes of JB Robertson, Robert Reid, Henry Starck (bagpipe maker), John Macdonald, Inverness, Glasgow Police under P/M John MacDonald (1945), and many more. Full play list here…

RSPBA CEO Steps Down After Difficult Period in Office

That Colin Mulhern has decided to step down as RSPBA Chief Executive Officer will not surprise anyone on the inside track at the Association, writes the Editor. Mr Mulhern has had difficult times since he took over from Ian Embelton five years ago. He has offered his resignation before – before being persuaded to withdraw it. The uncertainty surrounding provision of the major championships has always been a major concern…

Review: ‘Around the Worlds’, a New Book on the Development of the Grade 1 World Championship

In October last year I was contacted by the author Iain Duncan seeking some assistance with regard to Northern Ireland’s Grade 1 bands for a project he was working on relating to the World Pipe Band Championships.  As the months went by Iain’s project developed into a publication entitled ‘Around the Worlds’. It focusses on the development and evolution of the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship and also the…

USPF: Review of the Piobaireachd and a Trial of Colin MacLellan’s Judging Proposal

I judged the United States Piping Foundation Professional Piobaireachd with Paula Glendinning on Saturday 20th June. It is one of the major US competitions and continues in memory of its founder, Maclean Macleod.   By Dr Jack Taylor MBE It has moved from Delaware to Maryland, and is superbly organised now by Peter Kent, Michael Rogers and their committee. You may have read Michael’s report and full results on Piping…

Aberdeen Games Results 2026

It was an almost perfect day for pipes at Aberdeen’s Hazelhead Park yesterday (June 21) – warm with light cloud cover, writes Piping Convenor Fraser Maitland. Some seagulls were spotted overhead when the jig of the same name was being played! Piobaireachd and light music judges talked of ‘good quality playing’. Champion Piper was Ben Duncan with three first in the light music and a third in piobaireachd. Twenty played in…