PP Ed’s Blog: Band Formations/ Muirheads Names/ Colin Thomson/ Braemar/Jack Lee

Those of us who have been advocating ‘concert formation’ for pipe band competition for many years were cheered by yesterday’s announcement that the Edinburgh Pipe Band Championship, to be held in Princes Street Gardens on June 18, will adopt just such a format. All credit to John Hughes the RSPBA Lothian & Borders Branch Chairman, and Vice-Chairman of the Association, for taking this initiative. When I played there in the…

PP Ed’s Blog: J Ban MacKenzie/ Weekend contests/ Govan concert/ Donald McBride

A painting of John Ban MacKenzie reputed to be worth £10,000 has been stolen from a house in East Lothian in what police have described as a ‘targeted theft’. The picture entitled ‘Piper to the 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane’ by JM Barclay, which dates from 1842, was taken from a house near Kippielaw Farm, near East Linton. The BBC reported that four other paintings of black and gold Asian-style design were…

PP Ed’s Blog: Henderson Pipes For Sale/ Euros Promo Video/ Tartan Talk/ Queensland Ceol Mor

A beautiful set of Henderson silver & ivory pipes is offered for sale today. The pipe is circa 1900 and has been played at the highest level. Get full details here. Impressive new promo video for the European Pipe Band Championships at Forres in a few weeks: John Kelly reports from Northern Ireland: The ‘Tartan Talk’ column which ran for decades in the Belfast News Letter will resume this Saturday 20th May…

Atholl Gathering Draws and Judges Announced

The forecast looks good for the first of the big outdoor solo competitions at the Atholl Gathering in the grounds of Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Perthshire, on Sunday. All piping events start at 10.30. Fifty-three adult and 12 junior pipers will be judged by 12  judges. The Army School of Piping has kindly provided the stewards. They are all full-time soldiers on a six-month course to learn piping from scratch. Darach Urquhart…

TEAM McCALLUM – EDINBURGH HALF MARATHON

Leading bagpipe makers McCallum have sent the following. Please support this worthwhile cause if you can:  On the 28th May 2017, 17 members of staff and some of their friends and family will be running in the Edinburgh Half Marathon. The guys and girls will be running in aid of SAMH mental Health Charity and Yorkhill Sick Children’s Hospital. All funds raised will be split 50/50 between the two. They would…