Category: History

Pipe Major George Lumsden 1926 -2024

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George Lumsden, one of the former Pipe Majors of the Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band, has died. He was in his 98th year and was being cared for in a nursing home. George was a native of Fife where he first learned his piping. A was also keen amateur boxer and a keep fit enthusiast throughout his long life. He was one of the young pipers recruited by the legendary…

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Editor’s Notebook: Forfar Burgh Pipe Band/ Ivory Pipes/ Florida P&D Academy/ Ardmore Cup/ MoP Royalties

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A contact of mine called Mike Croft is putting together an exhibition in the Meffan Institute, Forfar, on the history of pipe bands in the area. He is a former drummer in the Forfar Burgh Pipe Band, writes Tom Peterkin  In its day, it was a pretty good band rising through the grades to Grade One – probably in the 1960s. Although I did not play with the band, he has been…

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Vintage Set of Pipes For Sale

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Brian MacDonald, son of double Gold Medallist, composer and teacher William M. MacDonald, is offering an historic set of pipes which once belonged to his father. Brian writes: The bagpipes, might have been made by Thow and are pre-1900 as they were originally presented to Colour Sergeant (later Captain) W.H. MacDonald of Kingussie by the officers of the Badenoch Co. 1st Volunteer Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in April 1900….

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Draw for Archie Kenneth Quaich Announced

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Those selected to play for the Piobaireachd Society’s prestigious Archie Kenneth Quaich 2024 have been announced. The playing order for the contest for amateur piobaireachd players is as follows: The date is February 24th and the venue the Royal Scottish Pipers Rooms, 127 Rose St South Lane, Edinburgh EH2 4BB, start time 9.30am. Visitors welcome. Applications for the 25 places totalled 37. There are four reserves for the 2024 competition:…

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Remembering the Paisley Band, their Drum Corps and the Great Days in the 1970s

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There have been several features in Piping Press featuring a photo of Seagrams’ Pipe Band under the late Pipe Major Donnie Thompson, particularly when it had its annus mirabilis in Grade 2 in 1992 as World Champions and Champion of Champions, writes Iain White.  I first knew this band in the early 1970s when it was the Paisley Pipe Band, having previously been Paisley British Legion. The Paisley band was…

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