Army Solo Piping & Drumming Championships

The 2025 Army Solo Piping and Drumming Championships took place at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming (ASBM&HD), Inchdrewer House, Edinburgh on Friday 5 December 2025. Sponsored by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the event welcomed 55 competitors across 15 piping, drumming and bugling categories. By WO1 Peter Grant, Senior Pipe Major, the British Army The Championships were once again a great success, even with a few…

Caritas Banner Grows in Stature

The Caritas Banner competition for under 18 piobaireachd playing was held yesterday, November 30, in the premises of its founders, George Watson’s College, Edinburgh. There were more than 60 young entrants from all over Scotland, and one even travelled from North Wales to take part. By Robert Wallace There were three events, Under 18 (two tunes required), 14&Under (own choice) and 14&Under Ground and Variation. Results were as follows: Under…

History: Mull Games More than Sixty Years Ago

Old programmes and publicity pamphlets are an excellent record of piping competitions and Highland Games, writes the Editor. Calum Maclean, Tobermory, has forwarded a couple from the Mull Games of the 1960s. In 1965 the date and venue were more less the same as today. Duty band was the Ceannloch Pipe Band from Campbeltown under ‘P/M MacCallum’ and ‘Drum Major Lang’. Can anyone give us more information on these two…

Consideration of Upper Limits on Numbers Following the Demise of two Grade 1 Bands

Recently, two first grade pipe bands ceased operations, unable to attract enough competent pipers and drummers to compete confidently at the top level. This reduction highlights a growing issue: the remaining top bands have become so large that they absorb much of the available talent, leaving fewer skilled players to sustain other Grade 1 or 2 bands. By Allan Hamilton Historically, a greater number of strong bands existed precisely because…

Gordon Duncan Tribute/ George Sherriff Results

A special concert is to be held at Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow to celebrate 30 years of the release since the groundbreaking ‘Live ‘n Well’ album by Vale of Atholl Pipe Band under P/M Ian Duncan. A Gordon Duncan Tribute Band will lead the musical offering at the concert with input from Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton. P/M Duncan, Gordon’s brother, and Ryan King have hand picked a line…