Category: Pipe Bands

PP Editor’s Blog: History/ SPA/ John Wilson/ NEPADA/ Lorient etc

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Last month we had the British Pipe Band Championships at Paisley but younger readers may not know that the area hosted the same championships for many years prior to 2016. In the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s it was held at nearby Renfrew. Here’s a report from the Piping, Drumming and Dancing Journal from before WW2: British Pipe Band Championship, Renfrew The annual Pipe Band Contest organised by the Renfrew…

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Piper Tom Plays On After Injury to His Birl Finger

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A US-based piper has suffered an unfortunate accident to his little finger but is determined to play on after doctors pinned it back together again. Tom Hyatt plays with the US Border Patrol Pipes & Drums and is based at Marta Station in Marta, Texas. The band is made up of Border Patrol pipers and drummers from around the US. Tom takes up the story: ‘I injured the pinkie finger…

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PP Editor’s Blog: Aberdeen Games/ Europeans PB Champs/ John Hughes/ George Ackroyd

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Sunday ‘s Games at Aberdeen have been cancelled due to ‘heavy and persistent rain’. The venue, Hazelhead Park, is currently waterlogged and more rain is forecast until Saturday. Aberdeen City Council has made the decision to cancel the popular annual event following an inspection of the site earlier today (Wednesday 15 June). Even if the rain stops ahead of the Games the ground will not be suitable to host this large scale event….

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PP Editor’s Blog: New England Academy/ UK Champs/Tune Search/BB/Rod McFadyen

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The New England Pipe and Drum Academy began last night with a two-hour workshop at the Clan MacPherson band’s practice. They’re going to the Worlds to play in G4b. I spent some time with them going through their tunes on practice chanters and then sorting pipes. They have been good supporters of the Academy but the cost of going to Scotland has meant many of them couldn’t attend individually this…

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P/M Parkes Comments on that Big Win in Belfast

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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….

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