Editor’s Notebook: Angus Campbell/ Sun Belt Amateurs/ Lorient Festival

Thanks to Josh Dickson for the following re the above photograph we featured last week. Josh writes: ‘The photo in question is indeed Angus Campbell at the age of 10 – 12. It graced the front cover of my 2006 book, ‘When Piping was Strong: Tradition, Change, and the Bagpipe in South Uist’, in which I detailed a great deal of information on Angus, his peers, and the wider piping…

The BBC Responds to the Piping Press Story on the Future of ‘Pipeline’

Following yesterday’s revelation on these pages about the future of Radio Scotland’s ‘Pipeline’ programme we contacted the BBC for a response. To their credit they replied promptly to our query, writes the Editor. A spokeswoman at their Pacific Quay HQ in Glasgow said: ‘It is important that we reflect pipe music on our schedules and we remain committed to providing this for our audience.  ‘We are making some editorial changes…

Changes at Field Marshal Montgomery

News coming out of Northern Ireland is that Keith Orr is retiring from his position as leading tip of World Champions Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band. Our information is that he will be replaced by respected soloist and current FMM corps member Gareth McLees (pictured below). Keith has had an outstanding career as Leading Drummer with FMM, partnering P/M Richard Parkes to numerous World Championship wins and countless major titles….

Rumours Surround the Future of the BBC’s ‘Pipeline’ Programme

I hear ugly noises from the depths of the BBC in Glasgow that their piping programme, ‘Pipeline’, could be facing the chop, writes the Editor. A reliable source from the Beeb’s Pacific Quay HQ tells me that the weekly show hosted by Gary West may soon be no more, threatened along with other Radio Scotland stalwarts ‘Jazz Nights’ presented by Seonaid Aitken and ‘Classics Unwrapped’ hosted by singer and broadcaster…

South Uist and the Day the Barefoot Boy Piper Charmed Sheriff Grant of Rothiemurchus

John Campbell, Kilberry, has kindly forwarded the above picture. John writes: ‘I enclose a photograph that I found in a box. I don’t know who the gentleman is or the location, and even less so the child who looks a piper in the making. Perhaps he developed into a piper of note.’ John subsequently forwarded the picture to piping history researcher Jeannie Campbell. She replied: ‘I felt that I had…