A Short Review from the Atholl Gathering 2022

This year’s Atholl Gathering piping was run very efficiently with something for solo pipers at every level. The day started brightly but conditions deteriorated as the day went on with cloud, cold winds and rain showers. Nevertheless, everyone was glad to be back out at the Games again, though the weather quickly reminded us that a certain level of stoicism is required where the Scottish Highlands are concerned. By Robert…

Editor’s Notebook: Silver Chanter/ Piping Live/ British Championships/ Letters

For me the most significant announcement in the Piping Live press release yesterday was the news that the Silver Chanter recital/competition is to be moved back to its spiritual homeland on the island of Skye. This is something we have been campaigning for ever since the National Piping Centre took over the running of this showpiece event from cash-strapped Skye Piping Society in 2018. It was totally unsuited to Glasgow…

Expert Analysis of the 2022 British Pipe Band Grade 1 Championship

We are very grateful to RSPBA Adjudicator P/M Robert Mathieson for this exceptional view of yesterday’s British Pipe Band Championships Grade 1 contest. It was typed ‘live from the dugout’ and is by kind permission from the RSPBA. Robert is a five time Worlds winner with Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia PIpe Band and a highly respected figure in the piping and pipe band worlds. This was the long awaited first…

2022 ‘Boney Invitational’ is British Columbia’s First Live Event for More Than Two Years

By Mike Chisholm The British Columbia Pipers’ Association held their 6th annual Boney Music Memorial Invitational Competition and Recital on May 14. BC piper Zephan Knichel took the top prize. Jeanette Bonar, wife of the late Andrew Bonar who started the event, and Andrew’s son Cameron, presented the award to Zephan who will have his name engraved on the trophy for his first win at the ‘Boney’. (See picture above.) ‘It…

History: Day 2 at the Northern Meeting 1970

A couple of weeks ago we ran a report on day one of the 1970 Northern Meeting. Today we have the Press & Journal newspaper’s report from day 2. It marked the comeback of the legendary Donald MacPherson after a four year lay off. The newspaper caption to the above picture reads ‘Congratulations for Mr Donald MacPherson, Exmouth, Devon, from his wife Gwen and daughters Fiona and Katrina after winning…