Category: History

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

Posted on      by      1 Comment

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…

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

The Tunes Bands Had to Play at Cowal’s World Championship in 1932

Posted on      by      3 Comments

A few weeks ago I said I would take a closer a look at the small book of tunes to be played by bands competing for the World Championship held at Cowal Highland Gathering in 1932, writes the Editor. The book, published by the Cowal Committee, cost 6d, about 3p today, and has the title ‘Selection of Marches, Strathspeys and Reels to be played by competitors in the World’s Championship…

More The Tunes Bands Had to Play at Cowal’s World Championship in 1932

Editor’s Notebook: PS Summer School/ Larkhall Boost/ John Cruickshank VC/ Learning the Basics

Posted on      by      1 Comment

The Piobaireachd Society Summer School has come to a close after a blazing week on the isle of Skye. Even if the weather had not been kind it would have been a rewarding experience. The venue was the Gaelic college at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Sleat, an ideal facility, with an extensive library and plenty of teaching space and an excellent refectory. More than anything, SMO has staff who are…

More Editor’s Notebook: PS Summer School/ Larkhall Boost/ John Cruickshank VC/ Learning the Basics

Sun Belt Contest/ NZ Piobaireachd Composing Contest/ Piping Times Back Issues

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The Sun Belt Invitational Piping Championship returns to Orlando, Florida, on November 11th, 2023, writes Eric Stein. The current list of invitees include: Callum Beaumont (2022 Champion pictured above), Glenn Brown, Bruce Gandy, Nick Hudson, Stuart Liddell, William McCallum, Donald MacPhee, Angus MacColl, Ian K. MacDonald, Alen Tully and Connor Sinclair There are two remaining qualifiers, the overall winners at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and the Masters Invitational at the…

More Sun Belt Contest/ NZ Piobaireachd Composing Contest/ Piping Times Back Issues

History: The McAllister Reed Goes to Canada

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The McAllister reed shot to fame with the success of the Shotts band in the 1970s. It consolidated its position in the era of Strathclyde Police’s run of World Championship wins. With stability, volume, projection, it was the reed of choice for many discerning pipe majors. Twenty five year ago a Canadian family swooped to buy the brand. The Troy family have never looked back. Pictured above are the McAllister…

More History: The McAllister Reed Goes to Canada