Category: Comment

City of Whitehorse Band Call it Quits

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Following the controversy surrounding the City of Whitehorse Pipe Band in Australia the band management have decided to cease operations with immediate effect. In a statement the band say: ‘Without prejudice: Whitehorse Band Management to Cease Operations of Pipe Band. It is with regret that band management has chosen to cease the operations of the band. Band management met on the weekend and has just made an internal announcement to the players within…

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Famous Pipers – P/M Willie Lawrie, Ballachulish

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Reader Eric MacIntrye reminds us today that it is exactly 100 years since the death of the great Willie Lawrie (see Letters). Many pipers are fortunate to  excel in one branch of our art either as a teacher, player or composer. Some are fortunate to master two; seldom three. But for Willie Lawrie this trinity of achievement came as naturally as mother’s milk. Genial, warm, humourous, articulate was how his contemporaries…

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Senior Figures Weigh In With Opinions on Judging Ruling

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One does not wish to belabour the issues raised yesterday, but I do want to highlight the views articulated so well by Bill Livingstone and which may have been missed by some. Bill wrote: ‘I completely endorse Rab’s comments, and made my views known to the SPJA [Solo Piping Judges Association]. I believe that Rab himself let them know his views and I believe as well that Malcolm McRae and…

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Promoters Under Pressure as New Judging Association Wields Its Power

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It remains to be seen how the draconian ban on judges joining a bench when their pupils are playing, imposed last week by the Solo Piping Judges Association, will work in practice. It is up to the promoters affected – Oban, Inverness and London – to run with this dictat if they are so inclined. They would be wise to pause and draw breath. It is already very difficult for them to…

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PP Ed’s Blog: QOH/ Major Gordon/RSPBA Regradings/Taking of Beaumont Hamel

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We are always keen to promote and publicise Army piping and drumming and especially those who work so hard in maintaining this pillar of the piping establishment. Part of that support comes in recording the history of the various regiments and their Pipes & Drums. The above photograph is from the Queen’s Own Highlanders (Seaforth & Camerons) Collection and the caption tells us that it was taken at Tidworth in…

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