Jimmy Anderson 1946-2024

Jimmy Anderson, who has died aged 77, was a World Pipe Band Championship winning piper with Muirhead and Sons and the man who half a century ago led the introduction of bagpipes into folk groups. His successes at the Worlds came in the legendary Muirheads band of the 1960s, and he was the proud owner of three plaques commemorating wins in 1967, ’68 and ’69. With brothers Peter and Tommy,…

Royal Honour for the Piobaireachd Society

His Majesty The King has agreed to become Patron of The Piobaireachd Society. The news was received by President Robert Wallace in a letter from Buckingham Palace last weekend. It was timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the King and Queen’s Coronation. In a message to the Society’s 1,000+ membership Mr Wallace wrote: ‘I am delighted to be able to tell you that HM The King has agreed…

Highlands & Islands Festival 2024 Senior & Junior Results

Another successful competition was held in the Oban High School today, Saturday, May 4, with healthy entries in most competitions. Sponsors included the Piobaireachd Society, RG Hardie & Co, McCallum Bagpipes and the Competing Pipers’ Association. P/A Ceol Mor for Cooper Salver (1st) and Dugald MacColl Memorial Trophy (2nd).1 Angus J MacColl, I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand 2 Angus MacPhee, Lament for MacSwan of Roaig3 Calum Watson,…

Highlands & Islands Festival Draws and Judges Announced

Piping Convenor Iain Hurst has announced details of the important Highlands & islands Festival senior piping competitions to be held in Oban High School this Saturday, May 4. Sponsors included the Piobaireachd Society, RG Hardie & Co, McCallum Bagpipes and the Competing Pipers’ Association. There have been several withdrawals; the lists below are accurate as of today, May 2. Organisers are the Netherlorn Piping Society. P/A Ceol Mor (9am, four…

Editor’s Notebook: 2/4 March Tempos/ Alastair MacQueen/ Bangor BB/ Pipe Band Gradings

Further to my comment about the slow playing of 2/4 marches, and concerned that I was talking out of turn, I had a listen to a recording I made back in 1982. The tempo is more or less the same as Hugh MacInnes‘s. The tunes are Highland Wedding and Jeannie Carruthers: I then had a listen to a selection of marches from the PP archive and they all confirmed that…