The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association have affirmed that they are determined to have a 2021 pipe band season if it is at all possible. Their top level planning groups met continuously during the latter part of 2020 and further meetings are scheduled for this month. The hope is that the UK’s rapid vaccine roll out will save the season, or at least part of it. The Association say the…

The archive has been made more accessible and is now self contained on the PP website. Access is free to all readers. We believe the quality of the recordings has been maintained during transfer. There are recordings from some of the great pipers of the past and also some recent tunes from up and coming young players such as Cameron MacDougall. Light music is very well represented with contributions from…

With announcement of new, severe lockdown regulations, the helmeted one reflects on the 2021 pipe band season prospects and we find him in serious mood…… I’m an optimist, a glass half full type, yet in less than a week into the New Year it was gone. Faster than two three-pace rolls, my hopes for the 2021 band competition season evaporated with the lengthening of what seems to have been the…

The death has been announced of P/M Tony Crease, the man who, almost 50 years ago, led the Pipes & Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards to the top of the hit parade with Amazing Grace. Tony is pictured above with the Gold Disc he received when his band’s recording hit the No.1 spot. Tony passed away peacefully at his home in Yorkshire yesterday, 4th January 2021, after an…

The death has been announced of Mrs Eleanor MacFadyen, wife of Iain, and his constant companion throughout his long piping career. Eleanor passed away in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, surrounded by her family. She had been ill for several months and visits to the hospital were made all the more heart rending given the isolation regulations of the pandemic. Eleanor was known throughout the solo piping world and was a regular…