The RSPBA have announced the draw for the first major pipe band championship of the season, the UKs at Bangor, Northern Ireland. The Grade 1 draw for the UKs is as follows: 1 Inveraray 2 Johnstone 3 Police Scotland 4 Closkelt 5 Scottish Power 6 Boghall 7 FMM 8 SLOT 9 Shotts 10 Fife Police. Check out other grades here. In a boost for bands, Dundee, Perth and Angus Branch of the association have confirmed…

Piping Convenor Jack Taylor has passed on the following update on entries for the popular Atholl Gathering to be held on May 26 at Blair Atholl. Dr Taylor advises: Players should keep an eye on the entry form for the current position. https://forms.gle/JmXjHKpj9AoB19Fd8 C Piobaireachd is full with 25; 4 reserves, room for one more reserve. B Piobaireachd has 24 entries. Will cap at 25, and take five reserves. Light music is…

Reader Neil Angus Gillies: ‘The passing of Major Jock Allan is sad news indeed. What’s missing from reports is mention of the years Major Allan spent teaching at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh. ‘This was after he left the Army School of Piping, the school being located a stone’s throw from Edinburgh Castle. He was Chief Piping Instructor at Heriot’s throughout the 1990s and 2000s and every pupil that received tutelage…

The death has been reported of Major John Allan MBE. He passed away peacefully at Castlehill Care Home, Cradlehall, Inverness. He was 89. Major Allan (Queen’s Own Highlanders) was Director of Army Bagpipe Music from 1981–1990. Only last week his former graduates at the school presented him with a tune as a thank you for all he did for them during their time at the Army School then based in…