Piper Steve On the High Seas with the Canadian Navy

Maintaining helicopters, playing the bagpipes, that’s Sgt Steven Drinkwalter of HMCS Calgary. British Columbia’s Sergeant Drinkwalter is deployed on the Canadian warship and has just finished taking part in Operation Artemis, a successful counter-terrorism and maritime security mission in the Middle East. He’s the ship’s unofficial piper. Steve is pictured above playing during a Battle of the Atlantic commemoration ceremony in May whilst in the Arabian Sea when the ship…

Editor’s Notebook: World Solo Drumming/ Champion of Champions Medal/ Richard Parkes/ Piobaireachd by the Sea/ Oldest Piper Search/ North East Photographs

Not surprised the RSPBA have cancelled the World Solo Drumming given that there will be no fly-in competitors, but could they not have put on something for the drummers in lieu? I really cannot understand the lack of activity from this great organisation. What about a Scottish drum championship or a UK drum championship or a British Isles drum championship? They could have used Headquarters in Washington Street and if…

Richard Reflects on His Four Decades of Success with Field Marshal Montgomery – Part 2

The success of P/M Richard Parkes MBE and his Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band from Lisburn, Northern Ireland, is the stuff of legend. In a remarkable career beginning 40 years ago, Richard has amassed a trophy haul that is unlikely ever to be beaten. He continues his look back at that success and how he achieved it…. My brother Gordon was my first leading drummer. He had taken over from…

Richard Reflects on His Four Decades of Success with Field Marshal Montgomery

Only P/M Ian McLellan of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band can rival the success of P/M Richard Parkes and his Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band from Lisburn, Northern Ireland. In a remarkable career beginning 40 years ago, Richard has amassed a trophy haul that is unlikely ever to be beaten. He is truly a living legend in the pipe band world and today on Piping Press he begins a look…

Lochaber Entry Form Now Available

Entries for the annual Lochaber Gathering piping competitions are now available. The contests will be held in person on August 27 in Fort William. There are events for ‘P&A’ and ‘B&C’ grade pipers. Places are on a first come first served basis. The competition will be the first ‘live’ open competition in Scotland this year. Entries are capped at 25 in total. There are six events: P/A Piobaireachd, P/A MSR,…