Leading drummer Alex Connell died on Saturday after several months of ill health. He was 85. Alex was a legend in the pipe band movement and won eleven Worlds titles with the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, eight as leading drummer and three as a corps drummer under L/D John Kirkwood. Today the band’s Pipe Major during those glory years, Ian McLellan, paid a heartfelt tribute to Alex. Said Ian: ‘Alex…

We regret to announce the passing of Allistair Sinclair of the William Sinclair Bagpipemaking dynasty. Allistair passed away after a long illness Allistair took over the Wm Sinclair workshop in Leith near Edinburgh on the passing of his father. Allistair, a master craftsman, carried on the fine tradition of both his father and grandfather. Modest to a fault, Allistair quietly worked away producing beautiful hand-crafted instruments and chanters for customers around…

The World Pipe Band Championship for Grade 1 will go to the band with best placings over two days of competition provided the entry does not exceed 17 bands, it was announced today. At the moment bands play on the Friday for a place in the 12-band final on the Saturday. The only caveat to the change is that there must be an entry of less than 18 bands. If…

Jimmy Banks: Calum Brown won our KO yesterday (Apr. 28) against Calum Watson and will meet Cameron MacDougall in the final on Sunday 19 May. Venue is the Scots Guards Club, Haymarket, Edinburgh. Get there early as there is sure to be a large crowd. Contact: jmb9194@hotmail.com for more. Andrew Carlisle reports: Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship 2019, Norfolk VA, April 27. Grade 3 MSR1 Carnegie Mellon University2 Ulster…

The Armagh City Hotel, in the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, was the venue for the much-awaited concert performance by the St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band on Saturday night 27th April 2019. Due to another engagement I could not be part of the capacity audience of 1,000 who attended. ‘Turas Ceoil Resume – Live in Ireland’ was a rerun of their 2018 pre-Worlds concert held in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall last…