Editor’s Notebook: Band Medleys/ Mod Piping/ Hector’s Tune/ Barry Brougham

How many of you can add a nod of agreement to this statement from Danish piper Bernard Bouhadana? It was forwarded to PP the other day from social media: For next season he would like to see bands, ‘Throw the concept of reprise in every single medley into the garbage. All bands sound the same. Is it really much fun? Play the same tune again after the last tune. Play…

Editor’s Notebook: John Ban MacKenzie Gravestone/ Rule Change after 214BB Success/ Lochryan Pipe Band Tutor Search

Correspondent Duncan Watson has been in touch: ‘It might be of interest to add this to the bit re John Ban. The headstone is in the burial ground at Kinnetas which is up the hill from the village of Strathpeffer. ‘I have taken one or two people to the grave for some kind of inspirational visit. I have taken photographs of the headstone and of the one next to it which…

History: Competition Wins by the Pipe Band of the 214 Glasgow the Boys’ Brigade 

The funeral of Hector Russell takes place at Cardross Crematorium tomorrow, October 5, at 2.15pm. It is hard to believe that this article was submitted by him to Piping Press less than a month ago, on September 13. His words to the Editor accompanying the article make poignant reading: ‘Robert, I hope this travels okay. Tell me please if it arrives. It is almost complete as may be seen but…

Editor’s Notebook: Circle Formation/ Royal Piper/ NZ Judges/ Band Medleys/ 1st Port Poem

Those bands getting themselves into a tizzy over the prospect of a change to the circle formation can rest easy. It ain’t ever going to happen. There has been considerable huffing and puffing since my last foray into this forbidden zone. The ‘we love the circle campaign’ is in full swing. Like us all, bands are change averse and are happy with the status quo. Why should pipers and drummers…

Allan K Chatto OAM 1932-2022

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Allan Chatto OAM. Allan was well known and highly respected internationally for his enthusiasm and commitment to pipe band drumming and pipe bands.  Born in Sydney, Australia, in 1932, he started his interest in pipe bands as a learner piper in the local St George Pipe Band in 1948.  He then changed drumming and joined the Dulwich Hill Junior…