P/M Parkes Comments on that Big Win in Belfast

Pipe Major Richard Parkes of Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band has spoken of his band’s success at last weekend’s UK Pipe Band Championships held in the grounds of Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland. His band were placed first ahead of Inveraray by a  clear eight points. An emphatic win, their first since the Europeans at Forres last year. FMM started 2015 in fine style winning both the British Championships and then the UKs….

Field Marshal Win UK Pipe Band Championships

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band are the UK Grade 1 Champions after a clear victory today in the grounds of Stormont Castle, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Grade 1 1 FMM 2 Inveraray 3 Scottish Power 4 Spirit of Scotland 5 Shotts 6 St Laurence Drumming: Spirit of Scotland G2: 1 Police Service N Ireland 2 Glasgow Skye 3 Johnstone 4 Buchan Peterson 5 Lomond & Clyde 6 Closkelt Drumming: Glasgow Skye Grade 3a…

New Summer Schools Announced at Home and Abroad

Two super opportunities for expert piping and drumming tuition are highlighted today. The first is the RSPBA’s Summer School ‘Launch Pad’. Here’s the info. For pipers and drummers aged over 10 Dates: Mon 1st to Friday 5th Aug Held at Glasgow Gaelic School, Berkeley Street Pipers and Drummers  £180.00 for 5 days Drum Majors £120 for 3 days Pat Whelan, the Association’s Education Officer: ‘Summer School 2016 will take place in Glasgow Gaelic School,…

PP Editor’s Blog: Live in Ireland Winners/ Blue Lagoon/ Lochaber Entry/ Gairloch Contest

Winners of the ‘Live in Ireland 87’ video downloads are John McFadden and Chris Lee. The questions were: 1 Name two piobaireachd heard on 78th Fraser CDs. 2 What do Canadians like best about Scotland? a) The weather b) The fish suppers c) The Worlds The correct answer to the first was Lament for the Children from the ‘Live in Ireland’ CD and A Flame of Wrath For Squinting Patrick from…

Is Famous Song Source of ‘When the Battle’s O’er’?

It’s a familiar call whether in pipe or massed bands: Green Hills / Battle’s O’er’.  Indeed, ‘When the Battle’s O’er’ is a tune almost every piper in the world has either played or heard more than once. The tune is attributed to William Robb (1863 – 1909, pictured top). P/M Robb was born in Stirling and won the Gold Medal at Oban in 1893 and the Marches at the same gathering….