British Pipe Band Championships Underway in Glorious Sunshine

The first major championship of the pipe band season, the British, are underway at the St James Playing Fields, Paisley, with 126 bands vying for honours across all grades. The RSPBA’s superb team of judges, stewards and officials were on duty from early morning and the first band performance begins at 10am. Grade 1 begins at 2pm, the bands playing in the following order: 1 Buchan Peterson 2 Glasgow Skye 3…

Composer Charles MacLeod Williamson As I Knew Him

The following has been received from Steve Connor in Toronto in response to a recent letter regarding the composer Charles MacLeod Williamson.  It gives a fascinating insight into the composer’s character and musical inspiration…… By Steve Connor, Toronto I am responding to your enquiry about Charles MacLeod Williamson. I live in Canada now but knew Charlie probably better than anyone in the piping scene in the 1980s and into the…

RSPBA Announce Draw for European Championships

The RSPBA have announced the draw for the European Pipe Band Championships to be held at Forres, Morayshire, on June 30. The full Grade 1 draw and judges are as follows: Grade 1 – Final 1 14:15 Police Scotland Fife (pictured) 2 14:25 Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia 3 14:35 Buchan Peterson 4 14:45 Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles 5 14:55 Vale of Atholl 6 15:05 Scottish Power 7 15:15 Inveraray and District…

British Pipe Band Championships: Grade 2 Preview

Some say that when he thinks top hose he thinks fire engine ladder….that his only drone is the one where he goes on and on…..but, but, but…. our readers follow his every utterance so here is the latest from MacStig……. To Paisley, town of the Abbey, town of Coats & Paton, the famous ‘pattern’ and famous son Gerry Rafferty, as the first RSPBA ‘Major’ machinery rolls onto the St James’ Playing…

PP Ed’s Blog: Blair Atholl/ Big Wedding/ Fintan Lalor/ Innes Smith/ Teacher Hunt

Very healthy entries for the Blair Atholl piping a week on Sunday (May 27) – at least in the seniors. Over 40 signed up across all grades. Unfortunately there are only a few forward for the under 18s and the organisers are keen to encourage as many youngsters as possible to get involved.  So if you are a junior and feel like a tune at what is effectively the first…