Category: Letters

More Information on Donald Cameron’s Powder Horn

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

We are grateful to piping historian Jeannie Campbell MBE for forwarding this information following last week’s article on Donald Cameron’s powder horn…. A piping competition was held on 4th October 1839 in a Pavilion at the Great Agricultural Meeting, Academy Park, Inverness, in aid of funds of the Northern Infirmary. The prizes were: 1 ‘A Handsome Bagpipe’ made by Macdonald [Donald] of Edinburgh, to Angus MacKay, piper to WF Campbell…

More More Information on Donald Cameron’s Powder Horn

Editor’s Notebook: The Demise of G1 Pipe Bands/ SPA Juveniles/ Donald Cameron’s Powder Horn/ Keith Sanger

Posted on      by      1 Comment

To lose two Grade 1 pipe bands in one week is dispiriting news. Closkelt and Johnstone have gone to the wall both victims of a lack of numbers. Will those in authority wake up? How long has this column, and significant cadre of our readers, been banging on about the need to restrict sizes in Grade One? Don’t the bigwigs at the RSPBA realise that if you allow unlimited numbers…

More Editor’s Notebook: The Demise of G1 Pipe Bands/ SPA Juveniles/ Donald Cameron’s Powder Horn/ Keith Sanger

The Demise of Closkelt Pipe Band is a Blow to the Worldwide Pipe Band Community

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The loss of the Closkelt Grade 1 Pipe Band is a great blow to the RSPBANI Branch, the local pipe band community and, judging by the worldwide response to the announcement that they had folded, a wider community as well.  More importantly it is a major blow to the band’s leadership and committee who worked tirelessly to follow their dream to create a Grade 1 band. They achieved this in less…

More The Demise of Closkelt Pipe Band is a Blow to the Worldwide Pipe Band Community

Editor’s Notebook: 2026 Majors/ RSPBA Fundraising/ Mod Piping/ Lochnell Championship/ Letters

Posted on      by      1 Comment

I wonder how the RSPBA are getting on with the planning for next year’s major championships? Will it be five or the three and a half we had this year? Looking back it seems there was confirmation of the Worlds, the Euros, the Scottish and the UKs for 2026. The latter was a bit of a non-event given the date on which it was held (July 12) but the Association…

More Editor’s Notebook: 2026 Majors/ RSPBA Fundraising/ Mod Piping/ Lochnell Championship/ Letters

News from Canada

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

St Andrew’s College in Ontario, Canada, are looking for a new Director of Piping & Drumming. The full time job begins in August next year. The prospectus reads: Our Pipes & Drums program has been in existence since 1915. With the help of world-renowned piping and drumming teachers, aspiring pipers and drummers can begin their journey at St Andrew’s and graduate with a lifelong hobby of piping or drumming, with…

More News from Canada