Dysart Drumming Title and Amazing Success

Last week’s feature on the Dysart had merely suggested their drum corps had won the Worlds in 1975 at Corby, I tried to confirm this through a 2023 publication by a pretty reliable source and found it given as Shotts & Dykehead, writes Iain Duncan However authoritative responses to the original article suggested otherwise, so to confirm this one way or the other I contacted Joshua Baird at RSPBA Headquarters…

Scottish Schools Championship/ Stirling Junior Solos

Young musicians from a record-breaking 172 schools across Scotland gathered in Kilmarnock last Sunday for the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, marking the largest number of schools ever involved in the event’s 12-year-history, writes Lesley Wilkinson. Held at the William McIlvanney Campus, the Championships welcomed 51 bands and ten quartets from every corner of the country, with 90% of participating schools coming from the state sector. Organised by the Scottish Schools Pipes…

Review of the 2026 Uist & Barra Professional

Pity those who weren’t at Otago Street last Saturday for the 79th Annual Uist & Barra Professional. We heard two piobaireachd that would have won any competition anywhere – and I’m talking senior events at Oban/ Inverness – and some flowing ceòl beag that wasn’t to be sniffed at either. By Robert Wallace The two tunes I mention were from Callum Beaumont and Finlay Johnston. There wasn’t a gossamer strand…

Uist & Barra 2026 Results (Updated)

This competition was held today, March 7, at the Piping Centre in Otago Street, Glasgow. There was an appreciative audience throughout the day. Eleven invited pipers competed. Invitations were based on success at the major competitions in 2025. Ceòl Mòr for the Glasgow Highland Club Medal1 Finlay Johnston, £220, Donald Gruamach’s March2 Callum Beaumont, £175, My Dearest on Earth Give Me Your Kiss3 Connor Sinclair, £110, Port Urlar 4 Angus MacColl,…

Dysart & Dundonald Worlds Success and Readers’ Response to Historic Photos

Since the beginning of the World Championships under the (R)SPBA in 1947, there is no doubt that Dysart and Dundonald’s rapid progress and Worlds achievement was a first.  ‘The Dysart’ were upgraded to Grade 1 at the close of season 1972 and their impact was immediate.  At Ayr in 1973 they placed 5th, at Stirling in 1974 they placed 2nd, at Corby in 1975 they placed 3rd, at Hawick in…