Bratach Gorm Results & London Championship

Piobaireachd for the Dr Calum MacCrimmon Bratach Gorm (7 tunes). This contest was held in the Caledonian Club, Belgravia, on the evening of November 13. It is open to Gold Medallists and winners of the London Gillies Cup for Open Piobaireachd. Other competition results below. 1 Callum Beaumont, Nameless, Cherede Darievea 2 Iain Speirs, Lament for Colin Roy MacKenzie3 Alasdair Henderson, Bells of Perth4 Andrew Hayes, Lament for the Harp Tree5…

Editor’s Notebook: Inverkeithing Band/ Amateur to Pro/ Troon Recital/ Alasdair Milne

Last week we had a very interesting little story on Brian Lamond and his lessons with Captain John MacLellan. Brian has kindly forwarded a couple of historic photographs of his boyhood band, Inverkeithing and District, the band where his talent was nurtured and encouraged. Of the photo above Brian says, ‘I am the wee boy in the front rank with my early teacher P/M Jock Innes on my right. Andy…

History: Pioneers of the RSPBA

Donald McIntosh was Honorary Secretary of the SPBA from its inception in 1930 until 1938 and served a second term in the same role between 1950 and 1960.  He was also President of the Association in 1946.  Donald was a piper in Willie Sloan’s Maclean band and later in the Clan McRae band.  He was one of the SPBA officials who was deeply and centrally involved in the initial formation…

2026 Glass Chanter Presented

The Glass Chanter, awarded annually to the piper who achieves most points at Scotland’s North Highland Games, has been won for the third year in a row by Angus MacPhee, Inverness, writes Steven McCabe The trophy and other prizes were presented to Angus last Friday night, 6th November 2026, during his very well received recital for Inverness Piping Society at Inverness Golf Club. The 2026 Glass Chanter, was kindly sponsored by…

Review: The Raasay Concert in Pitlochry Town Hall

The evening which was to feature a range of different bagpipes started with a bang. Angus MacColl played one of the copies of the Black Set of Kintail that Hamish Moore has made.  These pipes can be found in Inverness Museum and are dated to 1785.  This particular set, in the key of A and made in mopane wood, was presented to Rachel Gray as her prize for winning the…