Day two in Pittsburgh began with breakfast with Jimmy and Gordon Bell, illustrious sons of the late and equally illustrious George Bell, Bishopbriggs and New Jersey. I told them that over the years I had been in regular contact with their father up until his death eight years ago. George had been taught by Bob Hardie in the Bishopbriggs Boys Brigade and in the Kenmure’s Pipe Band. Hardie would go…
Pittsburgh has indeed thrown off its smokey steel town reputation. Yesterday I was given a tour of the metropolis by Andrew Carlisle and saw for myself the parks, the clean rivers the clean air – a distinct turnaround from the days of belching chimneys and Scot Andrew Carnegie’s industrial empire. That empire has endowed the city with some magnificent buildings and universities however and everywhere you get the feeling of…
Planning your piping weekend? Three top events to choose from in North America and here. Firstly in Ontario we have the annual George Sherriff Memorial Invitational for amateur pipers. Organiser Bob Worrall has sent this: The 21st Annual competition is on Saturday, November 19, 2016 in St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 70 James St. S., Hamilton, Ontario; Admission: $10 ($5 for students) Master of Ceremonies: Michael Grey Adjudicators: Andrew Hayes (Ottawa, Ontario), Shaunna Hilder (British Columbia), and Donald…
Inverness Piping Society’s Junior Competition was held last Saturday, November 12, in Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig, Inverness. This very active society are holding their first winter recital at the end of the month (November 25 7.30 for 8pm). The piper is Alasdair Henderson and the venue is the Grand Hall at Tulloch Castle Hotel near Dingwall. Entry is £10 for adults, £5 for juniors, 12 and under free. Results: 10 and under chanter:…
Ian Duncan and I judged the A Grade Piobaireachd for the Ram’s Horn Snuff Mull. Committee Room 5 at the Kensington Conference Centre was the venue and, though adequate, the close proximity of the bench to the room’s playing area may have intimidated some of the pipers and contributed to the mixed standard of play. Two tunes were out on their own: Darach Urquhart’s Big Spree and Nick Hudson’s Lament for…
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