Category: Letters

Blue MacMurchie’s Extensive Collection of Piping Artefacts For Sale/ New Interviews on Pipers’ Persuasion

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After making pipes for 25 years in  West Calder, West Lothian, MacMurchie Bagpipes is re-locating to nearby Kirknewton, writes Blue MacMurchie. It’s a move of eight miles to where our business started. The move will be done over a few months. For three generations the family has collected more piping memorabilia than you can poke a stick at. With the pending move it now comes time to downsize this collection. It includes pipes,…

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Northern Ireland Pipe Band Round Up

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All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships: The spacious grounds of Ballymena Academy were the venue for Ireland’s premier pipe band competition which took place on Saturday 1st July. The weather was ever changing but never cold. The popularity and importance of this competition to the pipe band fraternity on the island of Ireland was illustrated by a large attendance as friendships were made or renewed around the arenas and tuning areas. The variable…

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The Life and Death of Gold Medallist and Military Hero – P/M William Mackie

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Last week we reported correspondence from Mrs Rhonda Whitmarsh-Knight who was trying to trace photographs and information about her Gold Medal-winning grandfather, P/M William Mackie KOSB, who died fighting the Japanese in Hong Kong in 1941. PP readers responded magnificently to the challenge and we are particularly grateful to Ron Abbot, David Livingstone and Trevor Clydesdale for their input carried below. Pipe Major William Keith Craigie Mackie was born in Edinburgh…

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Editor’s Notebook: 100 Pipers Band/ Results Mix Up/ PS Recital/ Piper Wanted/ Gold Medal Hero

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Reader Gordon Smith: ‘I’ve sent you an old picture of the 100 Pipers Whisky pipe band taken outside a Chivas factory building in Paisley. I’m not sure if it’s a thread you would pursue. Pipe Major was the late Donnie Thomson, ex-Shotts, far left of pic. Leading drummer Alan Craig far right, with well known bass drummer Ian Macmillan in back row.’ Thanks very much for that Gordon. Would any…

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Blairgowrie Games Information/ Lochaber Gathering/ Festival of Junior Piping

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Entries for the solo piping at Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games (3rd Sept.) close on Mon 14th Aug. Email entries to Stuart Samson: sdsamson62@gmail.com informing him what events you wish to enter. Competitors will be notified in advance of their draw for each event entered. The entry fee is the admission fee taken at the gate to gain access to the Games field. Senior Events: Registration open from 10am to collect competitors number badge. All…

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