Ed Neigh 1945 – 2015

By Robert Wallace One of the true pioneers of North American piping and pipe bands, Ed Neigh, has passed away aged 71. Though his death was sudden, his health in the past few years had not been the best.  This, however, did not deter him from his piping, and he continued to teach both privately and at summer schools as long as he was able. Ed was also in constant demand as…

Piping Hot Summer Drummer/Weekend Games/ SFU/ Sheila Beaton etc.

A young drummer from the celebrated Dollar Academy Pipe Band, Cameron McCall (15), was lucky enough to win a scholarship to the SFU Pipe Band organisations ‘Piping Hot Summer Drummer’ camp last month (pictured above). As with his visit to the Winter Storm weekend last February he kept a diary of his time abroad and today shares it with Piping Press. We would encourage as many of our young readers…

PP Editor’s Blog: Band Formation Poll Results/Grampian League/ / Festival of Juvenile Solo Piping etc.

A couple of weeks ago I ran a piece lauding the organisers of the Chicago Highland Games for instituting concert formation for their band competition. The accompanying poll results can now be revealed. We asked the question ‘What do you think of the circle formation for band competition’. The results show an overwhelming majority in favour of change – a huge 88%. The response ‘Couldn’t be better; leave well alone’…

Piping Live Details Announced

Piping Live begins a week on Monday and the organisers have sent this flyer: Buy D Naill Solo Blackwood Pipe Chanter (inc. any tax & mailing), from   [wds id=”16″]   Click on the link up top or anywhere on the flyer for more information and tickets. [wds id=”17″]

PP Editor’s Blog: Games Attendance/Bands at Bridge of Allan

There are some pretty simple solutions the Competing Pipers’ Association could enact to solve the poor turnouts at our Highland games. I hope I am not overstating the problem, but when only handfuls of pipers are turning up at the likes of Taynuilt, Lochearnhead, Markinch, Luss, Tobermory, we need to do something. Inveraray, by contrast, can attract 35 for its B grade events, 27 for the C and a healthy entry for…