Editor’s Notebook: William Fraser & Bob Brown/ Desperate Battle Event/ Newtonards Contest/ Weekend Solos

I discovered this old picture in a rummage through the PP library. It is of one William Fraser the man who started Bob Brown on the chanter. Little did he know the favour he was doing piping. Brown went on to have further lessons from P/M George Allan [he of the Donald MacLeod hornpipe] and then John MacDonald, Inverness, and the rest you know, or should know. Jimmy McIntosh’s excellent…

P/M John McLellan DCM Exhibition

Dunoon Burgh Hall have issued the following invite – Date: Thurs., 31 July 2025; Time: 6 to 7pm; Dunoon Burgh Hall, 195 Argyll Street, PA23 7DD; Cost: free, but donations welcomed. ‘Join us for the opening of our latest small gallery exhibition to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Pipe Major John McLellan 1875 – 1949.  ‘Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon is also known as ‘John McLellan Dunoon’ and…

Inverness Games Results/ Bowhill Entry

Around 7000 people attended last Saturday’s Inverness Highland Games, held in the spacious Bught Park, writes Les Hutt. There were nine competitors in the adult piping. The overall winner in the senior events was Angus MacPhee (pictured).  Inverness Games is the first event in the Glass Chanter contest for senior piping at the Highland Games in the north. Angus is the current holder. Inverness Games results were as follows: Piobaireachd…

Editor’s Notebook: Champion of Champions/ Glass Chanter/ Ross Miller/ Inveraray Draw/ Book Search

My view is that the RSPBA should have cancelled the Grade 1 contest at the Ingliston UKs tomorrow. It really is no contest at all when there are only three bands taking part. Nor does it do these bands any favours guaranteeing them Champion of Champions points for turning up. Should they place well in the final CoC tables they will always be condemned for their ‘UK appearance points’. No,…

Champion of Champions Reaction/ Forres Games (updated)/ Australian Ladies

Below are readers responses to Ian Forbes’s article on the allocation of points for the 2025 Grade 1 Champion of Champions title. Apart from other issues raised, Ian questioned the wisdom of the RSPBA automatically giving the three bands entered for Saturday’s G1 UK Championship six, five and four points towards the CoC title. George McIntyre: ‘Why should the three bands that have entered be penalised? After all it’s not…