Category: Features

Gordon Castle, Fochabers, Results

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Thirteen played in the adult competitions. Eight played in the various junior competitions. The weather was cool and remained dry. The competition boards were rather close to each other and this caused the bagpipe sound to be slightly adversely affected, but nevertheless the playing generally was very good. Of course it is always a danger at games venues that there will be extraneous sounds. It is to the credit of the…

More Gordon Castle, Fochabers, Results

Editor’s Notebook: The Games/ Major Small/ Pretty Marion/ Festival Pix/ Book Help

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Nothing epitomises the romance of the games more than this old photograph from Glenfinnan in the 1970s. It shows the famous bench of Seton Gordon, Angus MacPherson, Invershin, and Col. Jock MacDonald, Viewfield, Skye, in confab. Combined ages not that far off 300. Clearly making notes after discussing the playing, but later just as likely to be talking of some arcane ethological phenomena (Seton was a renowned naturalist), a convoluted…

More Editor’s Notebook: The Games/ Major Small/ Pretty Marion/ Festival Pix/ Book Help

1st Port Trophy/ Piping Live/ Results from Ireland

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The successful dinner and piping recital held in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1st Port Glasgow BB pipe band winning the 1972 World Juvenile championship raised a significant amount of money, writes Donald McRae. This has now been distributed. The two remaining Boys’ Brigade companies in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, each received £150 to further their good work, and the remaining sum was used to purchase a trophy…

More 1st Port Trophy/ Piping Live/ Results from Ireland

Northern Ireland Report: FMM’s Outstanding Tribute to P/M Frank Andrews

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

On Friday April 28th the eagerly awaited Frank Andrews Tribute Concert took place at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena. There was an attendance of 600 and it was an outstanding success. I have attended the majority of the big pipe band concerts over the years, at the County Hall or the Waterfront Hall, and I would venture to say that this was amongst the absolute best. The star act was…

More Northern Ireland Report: FMM’s Outstanding Tribute to P/M Frank Andrews

Highland Games Season Details/ John’s New Recording

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Entries are now open for Aberdeen Games on June 18. Prizemoney has been increased. There are three senior events and three junior and a new open grade chanter contest. Entries close June 8. Enter here. Aberdeen’s Highland Games attracts between 8,000 and 15,000 people annually. Outdoor catering will be available with a public bar with a beer garden. Before Aberdeen there is solo piping at Gordon Castle (May 21) and Atholl…

More Highland Games Season Details/ John’s New Recording