Pipe Major Alec ‘Eck’ Brown

The Executive Committee of The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch have issued the following statement, ‘It is with profound sadness that we learned on Saturday afternoon at our championships in Newtownards that our esteemed friend, Pipe Major Alec Brown had tragically passed away despite the best efforts of the medical professionals on site who attended to him. The Executive Committee extends heartfelt condolences of behalf of the…

Renfrew Band Contest Results

Renfrew’s Robertson Park hosted this contest on Saturday, 22 July. It was a free event with free parking for everyone and was hosted successfully by the Glasgow and West of Scotland Branch of the RSPBA. G1: 1 Johnstone 2 Uddingston G2: 1 Uddingston 2 Kilmarnock G3: 1 Lower Clyde 2 Kilmarnock 3(EP) Uddingston Strathclyde 4 Strathendrick G4A/NJA: 1 Rothesay 2 Strathendrick 3 Uddingston Strath. 4 Kilbarchan 5 Renfrew Schools 6 Troon…

The Australian Ladies Pipe Band – The Definitive History Part 2

In December 1925, New Zealand officials cabled their Australian counterparts asking whether there were any objections to granting passports to the band members so they could proceed to Canada and elsewhere. Australia responded that passports should not be issued unless there was evidence of parental permission for the under-age members of the band.  By Jeannie Campbell Furthermore, each musician would have to pay a £50 repatriation bond as surety in…

Half Set MacDougall, Aberfeldy, Highland Pipes and Sets of Smallpipes for Sale

Captain Will Carter: ‘I was fascinated by Jeannie Campbell’s recent feature story on Duncan MacDougall of Aberfeldy. Thank you for your excellent online newsletter.  ‘I have a rare set of half-sized pipes made by Duncan MacDougall of Breadalbane somewhere between 1887 and the early 1890s before he moved to Aberfeldy, methinks. ‘The nickel silver and ivory are in near perfect condition as are all the sticks and stocks, bar one that…

Worlds Bounces Back With Strong Entry and Interest from Around the World

The World Pipe Band Championship has staged a full recovery from the dark days of the pandemic. 190 bands have entered for the competition to be staged at Glasgow Green on August 18 and 19. Last year, still covid-affected, there were 147. Whilst the 190 figure is about 30 bands short of the record of a few years ago, officials at promoters Glasgow Life and the RSPBA are ‘delighted’ with…