WW2 Piping: Stalag 383 Pipe Band and John Wilson, Edinburgh

Reader Bob Ash has kindly supplied the above photograph. He writes: ‘Here’s a photo of WW2 pipers and drummers in the Stalag 383 PoW Camp. ‘In the middle of the seated front row (4th from left), is my first pipe major, when I played with the 57th RAMC (T.A.) Pipe Band in the 1960s, P/M Bob Hill (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and Scots Guards) and, also in seated front row…

News from the Piobaireachd Society: Conference, Summer School and Plea for Stewards

The Society has reluctantly had to cancel its 2022 Annual Conference, writes President Robert Wallace. Difficulties over dates at the venue, the National Piping Centre, and ongoing covid concern over attendance made the decision inevitable The Society’s General Committee has determined on a re-launch of the Annual Conference for 2023, the venue again being the Piping Centre and the dates March 24/25. The Society has also announced that it has…

2022 Duncan Johnstone Contest Details/ Editor Features in YouTube Video

The Competing Pipers’ Association have issued the following: The Duncan Johnstone Memorial Piping Competition 2022 will be held on Saturday 12th March. This will be an in-person event. B Grade contests will be held at the National Piping Centre. C Grade contests will be held at the National Piping Centre Otago Street. Entry fees are £10 per event and are to be paid by PayPal at time of entry, via the…

Editor’s Notebook: Govt U-Turn/ Talk Piobaireachd/ Piper Press/ Santa Rosa Laugh/ Thrilla in Manila

Unfortunately the Scottish government’s change of heart regarding indoor gathering has come too late to save the Celtic Connections festival here in Glasgow (it’s going ahead as a restrictions-affected hybrid) but the expected U-turn has to be good news for all other events especially those early year indoor mini band and quartet contests. And with the cap lifted on the numbers attending outdoor gatherings from last Monday, can we really…

Piping in WW2: The Army School Expands Its Teaching to All Serving Pipers

The Piobaireachd Society had founded and paid for the Army Class in 1910. Its aim was to improve the standard of piping in Scottish regiments. By 1939 it had grown into the Army School of Piping and P/M William Ross was in charge of the school based in Edinburgh Castle. In December that year, three months after the outbreak of war, his services were placed, with his consent, at the…