Famous Pipers: Fifty Years Since the Passing of Robert U. Brown, Balmoral

Bob Brown, King’s Piper, renowned teacher and competitor is well known in the solo piping world. He was a direct link to the teaching of John MacDonald, Inverness, and after retiring from his job on the Royal estates on Deeside dedicated himself to passing on what he had learned to the next generation of pipers. This teaching involved travel. In 1972 he was to make his last fateful tour abroad,…

Expert Analysis of the 2022 British Pipe Band Grade 1 Championship

We are very grateful to RSPBA Adjudicator P/M Robert Mathieson for this exceptional view of yesterday’s British Pipe Band Championships Grade 1 contest. It was typed ‘live from the dugout’ and is by kind permission from the RSPBA. Robert is a five time Worlds winner with Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia PIpe Band and a highly respected figure in the piping and pipe band worlds. This was the long awaited first…

First Major for Three Years Sees British Championship Victory for Inveraray (Complete Results)

P/M Stuart Liddell’s Inveraray & District were declared the new British Pipe Band Champions today at a blustery Battery Park, Greenock. The other G1 places went to: 2 Field Marshal3 SLOT4 Fife Police5 Shotts6 Boghall with the drumming going to Inveraray. Each band had to an own-choice Medley. Judges for the Championship were: Stay tuned to PP for more on Grade 1. Grade 2:1 Buchan Peterson2 Annan3 Ravara4 Uddingston5 Manorcunningham6…

Why Is the March Strathspey and Reel Such a Chore for Pipe Bands These Days?

By Robert Wallace I am very grateful to Dr Jack Taylor for passing on to me a recording of a BBC radio programme from the 1970s. It features my old pipe major Bob Hardie and his band Muirhead and Sons. They had just completed their five Worlds titles in a row 1965 -69, a record for a civilian band yet to be broken, though Field Marshal came dashed close a…

Piping and Drumming Instructors Wanted/ Premier Florida Contest Update

Part time piping and drumming instructors are required for the Blairgowrie, Angus, schools area. The spec reads: ‘To develop a performance pipe band by delivering lessons in the Blairgowrie and District Community Schools area, running band practices, and organising performances. ‘The programme is managed by the Blairgowrie and District Schools Pipe Band Committee, which is a constituted voluntary organisation. The post-holder will report to the committee. ‘Lessons will take place…