Army Pipe Majors to Take Up Civilian Teaching Posts After Combined Service of 39 years

Army piping has suffered a significant loss with the imminent departure of two of its leading Pipe Majors. P/M Ben Duncan (above left), Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, is leaving after 15 years service to take up the job of Assistant PIpe Major at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh. Ben begins at Watson’s in September. P/M Peter MacGregor, 4 Scots, The Highlanders, is leaving to become the piping Instructor at Erskine…

Markinch Games Results/ Aberdeen Games

Results from Markinch Highland Games, Sunday June 5. It was a lovely sunny day, but the piping boards were in the usual shaded and blustery part of the park which was a little cold at times. Seventeen pipers entered. Open Piob:1st Greig Canning2nd Peter McCalister3rd Andrew Hall4th Angus J MacColl Open MSR1st Angus J MacColl2nd Jonathon Simpson3rd Robbie McIsaac4th Greig CanningOverall: Greig Canning Junior Piob1 Callum Lowther2 Christopher Drummond3 Finlay Peden Junior MSR1 Arran Green Stirling2 Callum Lowther3 Finlay Peden4 Brooklyn…

Silver Chanter Line-Up Announced

The promoters of the Silver Chanter have sent the following release: The prestigious Silver Chanter competition will make a welcome return to the Isle of Skye as part of this year’s Piping Live! festival. The event, now in its 56th year, is the annual invitational Piobaireachd competition that was established by Dame Flora MacLeod, the 28th Chief of MacLeod, alongside John MacFadyen and Seumas MacNeill, in 1967. The primary purpose…

Readers React to Robert Mathieson’s Groundbreaking Thoughts on the Future of the Pipe Band Medley

Last week Piping Press ran a series of articles from RSPBA Adjudicator Robert Mathieson. The reaction is almost as important and interesting as the original thoughts. We print a selection here… Robert McCarthy: Mr Mathieson is saying out loud what has been on many peoples’ minds for years. The contest format has been mired in antiquated rules long enough; they are strangling bands. The ‘prescribed tune list’ and restricting them…

Editor’s Notebook: Queen’s Awards/ Medley Analysis/ SPA/ Eagle Pipers/ US Piping Job/ Kyle’s Album

Over the years many individuals have received recognition for their work for piping. I can’t remember anyone whose award has been met with such widespread approval and happiness as that for Iain MacFadyen. I think it would be fair to say that there has never been a piper more deserving of a Royal honour than Iain. Most correspondents echo that – and the view of Iain Marshall in our comments…