Skye Gathering Entries Open

Entries for this year’s Skye Gathering piping – on August 5/6 – are now open. Entry form and contest information below. Places in the Dunvegan Medal are limited to 25 and entries close on May 31. A list of successful applicants will be circulated to all entrants in early June. In drawing up the list, the Skye Piping Committee will take CPA gradings and previous attendance and placings at the…

Dysart Drumming Title and Amazing Success

Last week’s feature on the Dysart had merely suggested their drum corps had won the Worlds in 1975 at Corby, I tried to confirm this through a 2023 publication by a pretty reliable source and found it given as Shotts & Dykehead, writes Iain Duncan However authoritative responses to the original article suggested otherwise, so to confirm this one way or the other I contacted Joshua Baird at RSPBA Headquarters…

Dysart & Dundonald Worlds Success and Readers’ Response to Historic Photos

Since the beginning of the World Championships under the (R)SPBA in 1947, there is no doubt that Dysart and Dundonald’s rapid progress and Worlds achievement was a first.  ‘The Dysart’ were upgraded to Grade 1 at the close of season 1972 and their impact was immediate.  At Ayr in 1973 they placed 5th, at Stirling in 1974 they placed 2nd, at Corby in 1975 they placed 3rd, at Hawick in…

Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band in the 1970s

Thanks to reader Peter Reilly for forwarding the above picture. It is of the famous Dysart & Dondonald pictured during rehearsals for the Worlds at either Corby in 1975 or Nottingham in 1979, writes the Editor. We are trying to confirm the date and identify all of those pictured. There is also a suggestion that Dysart won the Worlds drum corps title at Corby. All information gratefully received. Please reply…

Responses to ‘Judge’s Dilemma at Glenfiddich’ article

Neil Mulvie: ‘I find it difficult not to be impressed by the approach to judging and scrutiny that Norman [Matheson] describes in his letter to Andrew Wright. And I am certain that Andrew would have totally agreed with Norman’s views. ‘Andrew often quoted Andrew MacNeill, saying that he was more comfortable awarding a prize to the piper, ‘who went off the tune rather than one who was never on it…