Category: History

Editor’s Notebook: Piobaireachd Champions/ Joe Noble’s Funeral/ Scots Guards KO Draw/ Kilberry Castle/ Balmoral Classic/ Games Round-Up

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All congratulations to Alasdair Henderson and Nick Hudson, pictured above, on winning the two major piobaireachd awards of the summer, the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban and the Clasp at Inverness. Both are first time champions at this level. Why are these the highest ceòl mòr awards in world piping? The tunes are from a set list of the most difficult in the canon, your chosen piece is given only 20…

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News from Across the Water: SLOT win All Irelands/ Tribute Band/ September Solos

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From early morning pipe bands and spectators from home and abroad descended on the grounds of  Newbridge House, Donabate, County Dublin, for the All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships – and what a great day of musical entertainment and competition it was. Grade 1 is always a tight affair, and this year was no different. St Laurence O’Toole took the early initiative by winning the MSR, giving them a two point lead. Despite Field…

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North Games Champion Receives the Glass Chanter

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Champion Piper at the North of Scotland’s Highland Games 2024 is Angus MacPhee, Inverness. He was presented with the new Glass Chanter Trophy and a cheque during a break at last week’s Northern Meeting. The new perpetual trophy, inscribed ‘Champion Piper, North Highland Games Circuit’, replaces an earlier version which has gone missing. Angus said: ‘I am very honoured to have won the Glass Chanter this year. I have always…

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Leading Drummer Joe Noble 1942 – 2024

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The death had been reported of well-known drummer and former RSPBA adjudicator, Joe Noble. He was 82. Joe had been suffering from pancreatic cancer and died at home in Bearsden, Glasgow. He started his drumming career in the 214th Glasgow Company of the Boys’ Brigade. He originally wanted to be a piper but as the company band had a surfeit, and a shortage of drummers, he was encouraged to switch…

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P/M Malcolm M Mackenzie 1936 – 2024

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The death had been reported of P/M Malcolm ‘Malky’ Mackenzie, a huge figure in the pipe band movement for over 50 years. He was 85. His son Donald, also a noted piper, said: ‘It is with a heavy heart I report the passing of my dad. He passed away this morning after a short battle with mesothelioma. ‘The piping world was his life’s passion and he made many, many friends…

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