Undoubtedly the larger gaps between next year’s Worlds, Oban and Inverness will pose challenges for overseas pipers, not least of which will be the cost of attending all three. But the search for fame and fortune always involves sacrifice. If I want to succeed at sumo wrestling, to Japan I must go. When family budgets won’t stretch, or you don’t have the air miles, then priorities and preferences come into…

Malcolm Ferguson’s grandson Colin Moulson has responded to our request for a picture. ‘Sadly we do not believe we have any of him in uniform or in whatever bands he was in post war. ‘The attached does however show some of his action in the First World War. He had a bullet lodged in his neck from being shot (on which occasion we are not sure) whilst leading troops to…