PP Ed’s Blog: Judging Pupils/ Craig’s Book/Piob Concert/ Inverness Recital/ Black Watch Book

At risk of boring everyone rigid, myself included, I repeat again that I do not have any problem with suitably qualified individuals being part of a judging bench when they have a student playing provided the usual declaration of interest is observed. Senior pipers must judge AND teach if we are to keep producing our Gordon Walkers, our Stuart Liddells, the Angus MacColls.  However, it sticks in the craw rather…

Closkelt Continue on Victorious Way at the Mid Ulsters

Report and results by Andrew Cromie  Pics by Brian Hasson, Norman Bell and Alan Cupples Closkelt continued their magnificent start to the 2018 pipe band season with another dominant performance, this time at the Mid Ulster Pipe Band Championships held last Saturday, June 2.  Cookstown High School provided the venue but it was the Co Down band that was the toast of Co Tyrone on a fine day with lots…

PP Ed’s Blog: More on Renfrew/ Ian McLellan/ CLASP/ Weekend Contests/ SPA/ Drummers

P/M Ian McLellan (left) has identified many of the pipers and drummers in the above photo of his old band, Renfrew. The band is pictured in 1956 under P/M Tommy Shearer. Standing (l-r) are P/M Shearer, Fleming McAlpine, Alex Clapperton (ex-214 BB), Alex Buchanan, Ian McLellan, David Elder, ? Moffat, ?, Jimmy Healy. In front we have (l-r) Billy Cowan, L/D Alex Healy, ?, Billy Proctor, Alan Just, Ronnie Kinloch…

Northern Winter School Piping Places Sell Out / Reminder on Piobaireachd Concert

The Northern Winter School, to be held at Lohheide in Germany in November, has announced that all places for pipers have been taken only four weeks after registrations opened. The school has also intimated that they will be including drumming in this year’s curriculum, with top side drummer and RSPBA adjudicator Paul Turner leading the class. The Northern Winter School runs from November 2 – 9, 2018, and is now…

PP Ed’s Blog: Highland Games/ RSPBA Survey/ Sandy’s 90th/ New Ceol Mor

The first weekend of the Highland games season was blessed with incredible weather and another bright sign was the number of P/A grade players out having a tune and supporting these events. Let’s hope this continues. Looking ahead, we have Markinch next weekend, June 3, and thereafter for the rest of June we have Strathmore (June 10), Ardrossan (June 11), Aberdeen (June 17), Cupar (June 17), Drumtochty (June 23) and…