Review – ‘Jock’s Jocks’, A One Act Play by Gary West

National Piping Centre, 8th August………….. Those who survive war often say nothing of their experience, writes Dr Jack Taylor.  So Gary West’s discovery that Jock Duncan, father of P/M Ian and the late Gordon, had taped, then typed out, reminiscences of some 60 World War 1 survivors over 50 years is a precious one, especially as it was done in dialect, mostly the Doric of Jock’s Aberdeenshire.  They could speak…

Help Graham Brown

Top drummer Graham Brown is facing difficulties thanks to Hurricane Harvey. Never good to hear about someone losing out. Maybe the PP readership can assist?  Graham, brother of famous piper Glenn, teaches drumming at the St.Thomas Episcopal School in Houston. His house has been hit head-on by Harvey and he’s in the unfortunate position of facing the loss of all of his belongings. Please consider donating to the GoFundMe campaign that…

PP Ed’s Blog: Argyllshire Gathering/ CLASP/ Letters/ Festival of Junior Piping/ Grampian League

To Oban today for the 2017 Argyllshire Gathering. It is always a great occasion, one of the two ‘majors’ in the solo piping calendar and, with the Northern Meeting in Inverness, the place to hear the best pipers in the world. The piobaireachd competitions are the most difficult of all on the calendar given that they prescribe the tunes that are to be played. This single fact elevates the senior…

New Appointment at Glasgow Police Pipe Band

Glasgow Police Pipe have sent this: ‘Glasgow Police Pipe Band is delighted to announce the appointment of Alisdair McLaren to the band management structure. Alisdair will come in as Joint Pipe Sergeant joining Duncan Nicholson with significant responsibility in developing the Pipe Corps going forward. ‘P/M Iain MacPherson said, ‘Alisdair previously played with Strathclyde Police before moving into the ranks of the World Famous Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band in 2009. He has gained fantastic experience and…

High Spirited End to the Norhern Ireland Pipe Band Season at Portrush

The Ulster pipe band season came to an end on Saturday last when the Recreation Grounds, Ramore Head, Portrush, provided the background for the North West Championships and the end of the Champion of Champions season-long competition. In the picture above Lauren Hanna (Senior Drum Major) is pictured leading the ‘Salute to the Chieftain’ during the Massed Bands at the end of the day. While it was essentially dry it…