Jimmy McIntosh Scholarship / Concert for Eilidh’s Trust

The members of the Jimmy McIntosh Piobaireachd Scholarship Committee are pleased to announce that, in this inaugural year, we have selected two deserving recipients for 2022 Abby Long of Houston, Texas, and Emmitt LaBelle of Morganton, North Carolina, pictured above, were selected from a number of applicants. All of the pipers who applied demonstrated a great deal of promise, and the committee’s decision was difficult. We are confident that Abby…

History: RG Lawrie Limited, Master Pipemakers Whose Instruments Are Much Sought After

We have recently run history articles mentioning the famous Peter Henderson pipemaking firm. Equally renowned are the instruments of their rivals, RG Lawrie. Before he passed away Jimmy McIntosh forwarded to our editor the following article. In an accompanying note Jimmy wrote, ‘I had lunch one day in Stirling with Arthur Lawrie and he gave me this history of the RG Lawrie company. I think it is very interesting and…

CLASP Hold First Live Competition for Two Years

Results from 26th March In-Person CLASP Competition at The National Piping Centre, Otago Street, Glasgow. The event marked the first CLASP In-Person contest since January 2020. There was a good number of entries across grades 1, 2 and 3.  Thanks to the stewards who kindly volunteered their time, Janette Greenwood and Elizabeth Williamson. The judges for the day were Finlay Johnston (Piobaireachd) and Darach Urquhart (Light Music). Here are their…

History: Iconic Bagpipemaker Peter Henderson’s Catalogue from the 1930s Part 2

We continue with our look at the Peter Henderson catalogue from the 1930s. It has a full page on how to make your own bag seasoning. In these days everyone played either sheepskin or hide bags. There were few proprietory brands of seasoning. Of those that did exist, Robertson’s ‘Airtight’ was the market leader. The recipe for this mixture was bought by John Weatherston of RG Hardie & Co in…

Editor’s Notebook: Henderson’s Shop/ Highland Games/ Sir John MacDonald/ Stuart Easton/ Campbeltown Book

On a pleasant perambulation through Glasgow city centre the other day I passed the Atholl Arms pub in Renfrew Street. They’ve this old picture in the window. If you look closely you can see bagpipemaker Peter Henderson‘s shop next door at number 24. This was where John MacDougall Gillies held court of a Saturday, passing on his great knowledge to those crowding in. It was here too that RG Hardie…