Festival of Juvenile Piping Results

This competition has been going for more than 20 years but unfortunately due to a lack of sponsorship will no longer be held. It was always a very well supported competition attracting youngsters from all over Scotland. The final event was held yesterday, October 21 in Ardrossan Academy, Ayrshire. 10yrs & Under Chanter: 1 Ethan Donnachy 2 Laura Shennan 3 Harris Park 11yrs & Under Chanter: 1 Ruby Warren 2 Jock…

Lochnell Intermediate Piping Championship Results

This prestigious contest for professional solo pipers aged under 22 was held on Saturday, October 21st, at Lochnell Castle, Benderloch, Argyll. The overall champion piper with most points in the Piobaireachd and March, Strathspey & Reel sections was Brodie Watson Massey. He is pictured above with overall trophy and the Jimmy McIntosh Memorial Trophy for Piobaireachd. In addition he also received the Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society Bronze Medal and £200….

Readers Letters: Tune and Braemar Medal Queries from South Africa and John Roe Tune Search

Chris Terry, South Africa: ‘Some time ago (11 November, 2022) you had a video clip of Logan Tannock playing a hornpipe on Piping Press. Do you know the name of the tune (it was the first tune he played), or could you put me in touch with Logan? ‘Also some time back I came across a video clip of Stuart Liddell playing a recital at Braemar. In the background, as…

History: Pipe Bands in the East of Scotland Over the Years – Part 2

The decline of the coal mining industry in Scotland between the late 1950s and 1980s resulted in the loss of most of the former colliery bands, a mainstay of competitions during their existence.  This had a significant affect on the East of Scotland which had had many colliery bands in the Lothians and Fife. Pictured above in 1974 are the former Grade 1 band, Polkemmet Colliery. To that problem we…

What Price Forgiveness for P/M Gordon Walker?

In two weeks time the Glenfiddich Championship will celebrate its 50th iteration. In a nice touch the organisers have invited previous winners still living to attend for a weekend of good music, hospitality and friendship. Missing, though, will be Gordon Walker a two-time winner of the competition. On June 21 this year he received an email from Mr Nick Addington, Chief Executive of the William Grant Foundation, the contest sponsor….