Mike Grey and the 78th Fraser Highlanders/ 100 Pipers Pipe Band – Even More Info

In a very positive move for Ontario pipe bands, Mike Grey has agreed to take on the job of Pipe Major of the 78th Fraser Highlanders band. We asked Mike to give us a few words on his new job. Would he be staying on as President of the Pipers and Pipe Band Association of Ontario? We also wondered if top piper Sean MacKeown was joining his friend Ian K…

‘Pibroch by the Sea’ – A Unique Piping Experience on the Breton Coast of France

Well I’m pretty sure the weekend we’ve just experienced is unique in the piping world. It begins when you are welcomed off the ferry at St Malo by a piper. The place is Brittany in west France. We are here for the annual ‘Pibroch au Bord de la Mer’, piobaireachd by the sea, event. The setting is Cancale, the village from where Louis XIV sourced his oysters, but which is…

Bowhill Games Results

This games (Sept 10) has now superseded Pitlochry as the last Highland games of the Scottish season. The weather was dry and settled. Piping organiser Greig Canning writes: The games were started by local man Don Campbell (the handicapper for many a games on the circuit) and I added some open piping events in 2022. This year was the first we’ve had junior piping. Lochgelly High School pipe band marched…

The History of the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band – Part 1

Farquhar MacRae (1859-1916), winner of the Gold Medal in 1898, was a member of the (Blythswood) Highland Light Infantry (3rd Volunteer Battalion HLI) from the 1880s and for many years thereafter he was pipe major.  Towards the end of 1908 this battalion was renumbered, becoming the 7th Volunteer Battalion HLI.  That year, at Cowal Games his band placed fifth in the Argyll Shield Open Competition (World Championship), just one example…

More Information on 100 Pipers Whisky Band Pictured Over 30 Years Ago When Grade 2 World Champions

Reader Gordon Smith sent us the above picture of the 100 Pipers Whisky last month and we appealed for information regarding the personnel featured. The picture was taken outside a Chivas whisky factory building in Paisley. Pipe Major was the late Donnie Thomson, ex-Shotts, far left of pic; leading drummer Alan Craig far right, with well known bass drummer Ian MacMillan in the back row. Gordon himself then came back…