PP Editor’s Blog: SG Pipers/ Highlands & islands/ SPA KO/ Florida Award/ Silver Medal Tunes etc.

The above picture is of three doughty Scots Guards pipers (l to r) P/Sgt Jimmy Banks, Iain Wood and P/M Angus MacDonald. It looks as though the picture was taken in the early 1970; venue unknown. Jimmy and Angus are well known to everyone in the piping world but I would be grateful for more on Iain Wood who I’m afraid I don’t know. Reminder: entries for the Highlands &…

World Pipe Band Championships – Grade 1 Prizewinners over the Years

Most readers will be aware of the winners of the World Pipe Band Championship over the years. Indeed many of you will be able to reel off the names of those bands who’ve made it to the number one position and maybe even the year(s) in which they did it. However how many can remember all the great bands who ‘only’ got  second? Not a lot we think. Yet the…

Uist & Barra Professional Competition Comment & Photographs

A Look Back at the 2016 Uist & Barra Professional Solo Piping Contest by Robert Wallace One conversation I had recently was over the changing of the guard at the top of world solo piping. On Saturday at the Uist & Barra contest in Glasgow it was there for all to see. Every first prize went to a player from the younger generation. And quite right too. I’ll start with…

MacGregor Memorial Announcement/ Uist & Barra Playing Order and Tunes

HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON MACGREGOR MEMORIAL PIOBAIREACHD COMPETITION 2016 The MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd competition will be held, as usual, in Oban on the first day of the Argyllshire Gathering, Wednesday 24th August 2016, writes Angus Nicol. The competition is open to all pipers from anywhere in the world who are under 22 years of age on that date. CPA grading does not apply to this competition. Would-be competitors may enter at www.obangames.com. Rules…

PP Editor’s Blog: South Florida/ Couer d’Alene/ NPC Juniors/ SPA KO

Well here we are in sunny Florida for the second annual South Florida Pipe and Drum Academy. The temperature is in the 70s and though there was torrential rain for a period yesterday the conditions were near perfect for our outdoor massed band. This, and all our classes, are being held at a fine facility belonging the  Boca Raton Fire Department and our grateful thanks and that of the 45…