PP Ed's Blog: Winter Reading/ RSPBA Tune Advice/ Queensland/ Gaelic App

I know this is a fallow period for piping and pipe bands but I’d like to remind followers of Piping Press that there is plenty of enjoyable reading – not time sensitive – throughout our pages. Yesterday, for example, we had hundreds of readers dipping into the Famous Pipers column about P/M Ian McLellan of Strathclyde Police (pictured above). This followed a mention of the article on Facebook. So my…

Inveraray Named Pipe Band of the Year in Traditional Music Awards

Inveraray & District Pipe Band have capped off a great year by being named Pipe Band of the Year at the MG Alba Scottish Traditional Music Awards. Their award was sponsored by Glenturret Single Malt Whisky. Other nominees in the category included Royal Burgh of Annan, Lochalsh Juniors and Dollar Academy. The awards are in their 15th year and were presented at a glitzy award ceremony in the Lagoon Centre, Paisley. They were broadcast live on BBC ALBA,…

PP Ed's Blog: S Guards KO/ SPA Dates/ Tutor 1/ BB Jubilee/ Inverness Piping Society/ Alex Beaton

Lucky Jimmy Banks is off on a cruise so thanks to John Rae for sending the latest from the Scots Guards KO: ‘The winner of the knockout piping held at the Scots Guards Club, Edinburgh, on Sunday 26 November 2017 to a capacity crowd, was Dan Nevans who edged out Jamie Elder in a closely matched contest. ‘Dan goes through to the semi-finals along with Jonathan Simpson and Ben Duncan….

PP Ed's Blog: Judging Poll/ Scottish Schools/ Sponsorship/ Nerves Cure/Overseas Trips

It would seem that most readers think we should be allowing judges to keep going irrespective of age provided they are healthy. That’s the main finding of our poll launched last week following my article Judging Dilemma – When is it Time to Call it a Day?  Forty-three per cent of respondents thought this the best way forward, even though it puts them out of step with the RSPBA who…

RSPBA's Graeme Johnston Junior Solo Piping

This popular contest is run by the Glasgow and West of Scotland Branch of the RSPBA. The competition was held in the College of Piping. Champion Piper Bobby Allan is pictured above with the McCallum Prize Pipe. The branch expressed its gratitude  to the sponsors who included: McCallum Bagpipe Ltd; Wallace Bagpipes and Donald MacPhee Reed Maker. The judge for all events was Donald MacPhee. [wds id=”2″] The results were as…