At what age should a judge retire? In the pipe band world this is set at 75. After that, irrespective of your health, it is time to hang up the clipboard. No more standing in the rain listening to 30 Grade 4b performances and other such delights these dedicated professionals have to endure on the bands’ behalf. No, it’s straight into the armchair with a bag of peppermints and re-runs…
So that is the third annual Northern Winter School over and we are now travelling home, writes the Editor. I think it would be fair to say it has been a success and Principal Ronnie Bromhead has already booked his premises for the next few years ahead. The picture above shows students and instructors.Many of the students have expressed a wish to have a weekend refresher course a few months…
Today we begin abridged excerpts from the above book by Ian Hamilton Mackay Scobie. The book was published in 1924 and is now out of print. It contains interesting details on the origins of titles such as ‘Pipe Major’ and the author also comments on drums drowning out pipes, questions whether playing in a band helps the piper’s playing and gives a date for the formation of the first pipe…
After reading of Niall Stewart’s stolen pipes a couple of weeks ago, a weird sort of déjà vu! Over the years, I know of five sets I have made that have been stolen. The set Nicholas Taitz plays here in South Africa were actually stolen out of our house. Nick had given them to me to remount with engraved mounts and they were standing inside our front door in a…
‘Charlie’ posted a comment on the Glenfiddich results report asking if I will be doing a critique on this year’s performances. The answer is no Charlie. They don’t invite me I’m afraid. The last time I was there, in 2014, I had to ask for a press pass. People might not realise it but behind all the smiles and bonhomie on display ….. My report that year mentioned that the…
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