Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, a Ship Launch on the Clyde and P/M Donald MacKay

Following on from last week’s item on bands in shipyards, I enclose photos of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band led by P/M Donald MacKay at Yarrow’s shipyard on the Clyde in November 2007 for the official launch of Royal Navy vessel HMS Diamond, writes Allan Hamilton. It was a cold wet day as usual, but undaunted the band played without capes to the delight of a crowd of Navy personnel,…

Results of US-Based Competition: ‘World Online Solos’

Here is the list of winners in the professional piping section of this popular event run by Jori Chisholm of Seattle, USA. Click on the links to hear the winning performances. Highland dress is not worn. The full list of winners is available here. Piobaireachd1 Dr Brendon Eade (pictured), NZ, Lament for Donald Duaghal Mackay2 Ian K MacDonald, Canada, Lament for King George III3 James MacHattie, Canada, Glengarry’s March4 John Dew,…

Editor’s Notebook: Covid Fears for 2022 Season/ Charity Single/ Talk Piobaireachd/ Results from Yesteryear

All the indications are that the restrictions/ recommendations on social gatherings limited to three households, as announced yesterday, will extend at least until March. What impact this will have on band practices here in Scotland I know not. But I am concerned. The knock on effect for the 2022 season could be significant. Already we have had the cancellation of the Scottish Schools contest scheduled for the end of March….

Some Reflections on My Time as an Instructor at the College of Piping

The airing last weekend of the online premiere of the film ‘Follow Me…I’m Right Behind You’ brought back a host of memories from my time as senior instructor at the former College of Piping in Glasgow. I retired from Strathclyde Police in December 2006 and during that first week of doing nothing I received a phone call; it was the College of Piping asking if I would come in and…

Scottish Schools Pipe Band Contest for 2022 Cancelled

The 2022 Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, a non-RSPBA event, have been cancelled due to the ongoing covid pandemic. The competition was due to be held in March next year, only two months before the first scheduled major pipe band championship, the British at Gourock. The RSPBA have listed the proposed majors for next year but their website warn: ‘Given the current COVID-19 restrictions, these events are of course subject…