Category: Pipe Bands

PP Editor’s Blog: Poll/ Angus Nicol/ Willie Lawrie/ Shotts Contest/ Glenn’s Job

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  [polldaddy poll=9503440] Don’t forget to offer your opinion on the Champion of Champions poll above. Now that Cowal is past, visitors might have a better idea of how the event could handle re-instituting the awards there. Still with the bands, a good letter today on the Worlds and Grade 1 players being allowed to play ‘down’. Correspondent Jim Johnson, like all those with any sense, believes the open circle…

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Drummer William (Billy) Stevenson, Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band

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Former Leading Drummer of Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band, William (Billy) Stevenson,  passed away on 5 July 2016 in Australia.  Billy rose to prominence when he was tasked with revitalising the Shotts drum corp after the then leading tip, the legendary Alex Duthart, left the band to join P/M Donald Shaw Ramsay at the heavily sponsored Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band – this in the early 1960s. Bert Barr and…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Thoughts on the Worlds Grade 2/ Champion of Champions/ Cowal

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Apologies for the delay in my second bulletin from the World Pipe Band Championships; so much going on in piping at this time of year. Before I get to it however I want to reflect on a couple of things. Firstly do you agree with me that the pipe band season is over a little early? Say what you like about Cowal, but it extended things by two or three…

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PP Editor’s Blog: Lochaber Gathering/ Donald Campbell/ Braemar – Grampian League/ Alden Biesen

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To Fort William tonight for the annual Lochaber Gathering competition. A strong entry of over 50 pipers from juniors to senior P/A grade. I am giving a  short talk at 1.30 under the title of ‘The Judging of Solo Competition’ and hope to be able to offer some tips and advice to competitors. The contest clashes with the Glenfinnan Highland Gathering, close by, 12 miles along the A830. With Lochaber…

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More from the Worlds: Juvenile and Grade 1

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Thankfully the sun shone through occasionally on the Saturday of the World Championships and we avoided rain apart from some drizzle during the morning, but in general it was rather cold and not the ideal conditions for tuning and playing. Compared to the Friday, the difference in the atmosphere within Glasgow Green was quite dramatic with the buzz from all the bands and spectators, and a gradual build-up of people…

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