PP Editor’s Blog: South Florida/ Couer d’Alene/ NPC Juniors/ SPA KO

Well here we are in sunny Florida for the second annual South Florida Pipe and Drum Academy. The temperature is in the 70s and though there was torrential rain for a period yesterday the conditions were near perfect for our outdoor massed band. This, and all our classes, are being held at a fine facility belonging the  Boca Raton Fire Department and our grateful thanks and that of the 45…

PP Editor’s Blog: Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band/ SG KO/ Willie Ross/ Metro Cup

Tom Johnstone, President of the Scottish Pipers’ Association, has responded to our call for more on the demise of the celebrated Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band by forwarding a couple of pictures from the last days of the band. Tom writes: ‘The first [below] is of Donald MacDonald, brother of the late Willie (Benbecula), who now lives in the Inverness area, helping someone on with his plaid. The second [top] is…

PP Editor’s Blog: John MacDougall/ Joe Wilson/ South Florida

A sad loss this week with the passing of John MacDougall. John was a hugely respected figure and a great example to the younger generation of solo competitors with his dedication to his art, his prodigious ability. On the boards he was a fearsome competitor, very seldom ever opening the door to a rival with a slip or a poor pipe or a missed taorluath; off the boards a thorough…

Tributes for the Late John MacDougall 1936 – 2016

Dozens of tributes have been paid to John MacDougall since his death was announced yesterday. John(80), one of the world’s most outstanding pipers, died peacefully in his sleep at home in Kincraig on Speyside. He had suffered ill-health for a number of years but still managed to get out to judge at the games at the major competitions at Oban and Inverness, often with the use of a wheelchair and with…

PP Editor’s Blog: Highland & Islands Festival/ Sandy Hain’s Music/ Old Results

Riona MacInnes of the Highlands & islands Festival has sent this: ‘We now have a Facebook page which is being regularly updated and if you have a look at that you will see that the syllabus is now available and the entries are to be in for 14th March. We are trying to be a bit more rigid this year about pipers changing their tunes at the last minute and I…