A Day at the Army School for the Captain John MacLellan Memorial

Judges convened at 8am at Inchdrewer House, Army School HQ, Edinburgh, for a bacon roll breakfast. From table it was immediately down to work given the entries in the B and C divisions. Such was the efficiency of the stewarding and the organisation that morning fears of an early evening finish were soon dispelled. By the Editor My first task was the P Grade MSR with Andrew Frater. First on…

Captain John MacLellan Memorial Results

The 11th annual Captain John A MacLellan MBE Memorial Piping Championship was held at the Army School at Inchdrewer House, Edinburgh, today. B & C grades were oversubscribed, good A grade entries but P grade entries were limited. Under the guidance of Major Ross McCrindle, Director of Army Bagpipe Music, the Army School delivered a very efficiently run event with top prize money and a high standard of playing. Stay…

Editor’s Notebook: Search for Silver MacDougalls/ Ian Plunkett/ Captain John Contest/ Letters

Dr Katherine Macaulay: ‘I recently read an article by you on ‘History of the Scottish Piping Society of London; The Post War Years’ written in 2016. In the article you mentioned Lewis Beaton Memorial Pipes … but, sadly, the actual pipes have disappeared somewhere along the timeline. Apparently they were actually Lewis Beaton’s silver mounted MacDougalls. Where are they now? ‘My father is Iain Macaulay, nephew to, and taught the pipes by,…

Kuala Lumpur Highland Games

This year’s Kuala Lumpur Highland Games were a resounding success, bringing a touch of Scotland to the heart of Malaysia, writes our Asia correspondent. Held at the prestigious Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort, the event was run by a dedicated team of expatriates who infused the day with both energy and authentic Highland spirit. The KL Games provided an extraordinary day filled with tradition, competition, and community spirit. It…

Northern Ireland Piper of the Year Results and Comment

When, in the early 80s, I first ventured to a then much-Troubled Northern Ireland there was a decided paucity of piobaireachd in the Province. Few played it; pipe bands scorned it. A small ember of hope remained thanks to the oxygen of interest from the likes of Norman Dodds and Ken Stewart. What a lonely furrow they ploughed. Undaunted, their efforts, and that of teachers such as Andrew Wright and,…