Piobaireachd Society Agree to Take Over Running of the Silver Chanter

The Piobaireachd Society has announced that they are to take over the running of one of piping’s most iconic events, the Silver Chanter. The Society will do so under an agreement with Mossburn Distillers/Torabhaig Distillery and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic College. Both are near neighbours on the Sleat Peninsula on the isle of Skye. The Silver Chanter will be funded by the Society and by Mossburn/Torabhaig. Both have agreed…

My Father, P/M Robert Reid – Part 2

We continue with our articles based on the letters sent by Robert Reid Jnr. to Jimmy McIntosh from 30 years ago. This excerpt, dated 28th July 1993, confirms Reid senior’s reputation for brusque assertiveness, a characteristic clearly passed on to his son….. Dear Mr McIntosh, Re the cassettes, I would much prefer to have control over the recording of the existing tapes myself. My father and I spent a great…

My Father, P/M Robert Reid – Part 1

Thirty years ago, in 1993, Jimmy McIntosh had extensive correspondence with Robert Reid Junior domiciled in Shettleston, Glasgow. The subject was the life and career of Bobby jnr’s father, P/M Robert Reid (above), multiple award winner and a forthright advocate of his own talents. These letters, passed to our Editor by Jimmy before he died, make for excellent reading and will appear here over the next few weeks edited, but…

A Personal Look at the Edinburgh Pipe Band Contest

As already reported on Piping Press, the annual pipe band competition in Edinburgh, arranged by the Lothian and Borders Branch of the RSPBA, took place at the Newfield playing fields of Edinburgh Academy on Sunday 18 June, 2023.  By Alistair Aitken OBE The weather was very warm and ideal for playing, although a colder breeze was encountered later in the afternoon.  The venue was ideal for a pipe band competition…

Editor’s Notebook: Boghall/ Regradings/ MacDougall Pipes/ Band Quartets/ British Legion 1970

There are a couple of things that need to be said following the Boggies big win last weekend. This very much a community band with a loyal membership that has stuck with it over the decades irrespective of success or lack of it. This loyalty was much more common when I played in bands than it is today with butterfly bagpipers flitting around hither and thither before landing on another…