PP Ed’s Blog: Charity Figures/ Ross’s Baby/ Duncan MacDougall/ London Reminder

The Office of Scottish Charities Register (OSCR) has made the following account details concerning the College of Piping, the National Piping Centre and the Piping Live festival available to the public.   The College of Piping show an income of £544,896 and outgoings of £609,356 – a deficit of £64,460 – in their latest figures posted on 29th January this year. The National Piping Centre show an income of £2,157,165…

PP Editor’s Blog: Grampian Placings/ Roddy Ross/ BB Letter/ Piobaireachd Analysis

Patricia Grant has sent the final placings in the John Milne Fine Arts Grampian Games Association Piping League 2016. Well done to all those pipers, junior and senior, who supported these important north-east games. Patricia writes: ‘It is encouraging to see that there are new names appearing on the League placings and hopefully the efforts of the Grampian Games Association to promote all aspects of Highland games is paying off.  I know that…

PP Editor’s Blog: Silver Chanter/ Letters/ Comments/ Games/ Nicol-Brown/ Bill Blacklaw

Congratulations to Iain MacFadyen on completing 50 years attendance at the Silver Chanter competition held this week at Dunvegan Castle, Skye. Iain’s family has had a long association with the competition and with the island. His brother John, who had a home there, was one of the Chanters’ co-founders back in the late 60s. The family connection with the Misty Isle continues with Cameron MacFadyen, Iain’s nephew, taking over from…

Thoughts on James Campbell’s Letters regarding ‘Masters of Piobaireachd’

The Masters of Piobaireachd series comprising 10 CDs was an initiative of Norman Matheson and Robert Wallace. As each CD was released, Norman sent a copy to the late James Campbell who responded with letters of analytical content, extracts of which appeared in Piping Press from March 2015. For those pipers who have the CD collection, the letters are of interest, and to retain them along with their collection would be…

PP Editor’s Blog: Paisley Contest/ Ardrossan/ Antigonish

I see that Scottish Power pipe band have entered next Saturday’s minor contest at Paisley (July 23rd). Well done to the band for that. Their presence will inspire the smaller bands and give them a chance to hear one of the best in the world. It will be a good marketing opportunity for the Power’s sponsors too and help ensure continued funding – very important.  The contest starts at 10.30am…