Scottish Pipe Band Championships – Field Marshal Triumph

Field Marshal Montgomery (pictured today) were declared Scottish Pipe Band Champions at a warm and largely dry Levengrove Park, Dumbarton. The victory gave P/M Matt Wilson and P/Sgt Ben Duncan their first championship win. The Scottish was considered by many to be the first for Grade 1 this year given that the UK event at Ingliston, Edinburgh, earlier in the month only attracted two entries. Ten played at Dumbarton. The…

Northern Ireland News: Antrim/ Ards/ All Irelands/ East Ireland/ UK Championships

The pipe band season is now in full swing and here is a round up of events so far. On Saturday June 28th the Antrim & Newtownabbey Championships took place in Antrim’s beautiful Castle Gardens. Whilst there wasn’t wall to wall sunshine, it was extremely hot. The highlight of the day was always going to be the appearance of the Field Marshal Montgomery (front rank pictured above) under its new…

150th Anniversary Gold Medal at Oban

As we approach August, the piping side of things for this year’s Argyllshire Gathering is in a pretty good place, writes Piping Steward John Campbell. Torquil Telfer deserves most of the plaudits on that score.  This year is a very special one for the Oban Gold Medal. Here is some information about it and a few photos. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Highland Society of London Gold Medal…

Editor’s Notebook: William Fraser & Bob Brown/ Desperate Battle Event/ Newtonards Contest/ Weekend Solos

I discovered this old picture in a rummage through the PP library. It is of one William Fraser the man who started Bob Brown on the chanter. Little did he know the favour he was doing piping. Brown went on to have further lessons from P/M George Allan [he of the Donald MacLeod hornpipe] and then John MacDonald, Inverness, and the rest you know, or should know. Jimmy McIntosh’s excellent…

Know Your Judges: Jennifer Hutcheon

Last weekend RSPBA adjudicator Jennifer Hutcheon received her long service medal from the Association. Still active at the highest level, Jennifer’s background and piping career were revealed in a 2009 interview with Pipe Band Magazine. How old are you and where do you live?I am 58 and live in Bridge of Earn, Perthshire. What formal qualifications do you have?I was a teacher of physical education at Craigmount High School and…