Editor’s Notebook: PS Conference/ Watson’s Bursary/ SPA Entries/ Virginia Tattoo/ Band Entries

one of the supplementary benefits of the Piobaireachd Society conference is the time afforded for informal chats. They were happening all over the place at the Golden Lion in Stirling last weekend. One was a follow on to Michael Grey’s talk on Bill Livingstone and the great tape recording scandal. There are phones recording everything now we pondered – in the piper’s sporran as he plays, and all over the…

Northern Ireland News

Ulster at the Duncan Johnstone: On Saturday 21st March a number of pipers from Northern Ireland took part in the annual Duncan Johnstone Memorial competition in Glasgow. The overall winner of the B Grade competitions was Andrew Pattison, while Scott Wallace was the Grade C winner. The B Piobaireachd was won by Rathfriland’s James Frazer who also placed fifth in the B MSR and second in the B Jig. Scott…

Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference

Well what a wonderful weekend that proved to be. The Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference is always an enjoyable mix of history, research and camaraderie, but this year at the Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling has to be rated right up there with the best.  Maybe delegates were determined to make it a roaring success following the last minute decamp from the fire-stricken Royal George in Perth. Whatever the reason, we…

MacColls Recital/ Pipe Idol Entries/ Kiwi Success

Tonight Inverness Piping Society welcomes both Angus MacColl Snr. and Jnr. for the third recital of the season, writes Les Hutt. From his success in the Young Piper of the Year at Blair Castle in 1984, Angus Snr. has been one of the most consistent of the top pipers over the past 40 years. His successes make remarkable reading including five Clasps to the Highland Society of London Gold Medal,…

History: Argyllshire Gathering 1981, Part 3

We continue with our article from the Oban Times of early September 1981. It is by Alfred Morrison, their piping correspondent at the time. Having dealt with the Gold Medal, he now reports on the other events….. Former Winners Piobaireachd Competition: This took place in the Phoenix Cinema. Eight tunes were set and each competitor had to select four tunes, one of which he was asked to play. Eight competitors…