Argyllshire Gathering Announcement

Assistant Piping Steward Torquil Telfer has announced that entries for the MacGregor Memorial competition can now be taken via the Argyllshire Gathering website. Previously they had to be sent to the competition secretary and organiser Angus Nicol in London. Mr Telfer said: ‘This change will make things easier for everyone but I would like to emphasise that Angus Nicol remains in overall charge of the MacGregor on behalf of the…

New Books Available for Free Download

Today we make available two books which will be of interest to piobaireachd enthusiasts. The first is a copy of the Gesto Canntaireachd first issued in 1828 and compiled by Captain Niel Macleod of Gesto from tunes taken from ‘John MacCrimmon’. The second is P/M William MacLean’s transliteration of this book into staff notation. Read more about the pipe major and his work here. He is pictured above. Both books…

Solo Judges Announcement

This press release has been received from the Solo Piping Judges’ Association Additions to Judges’ List: Murray Henderson – senior judge, Michael Grey (Canada) – approved judge, Logan Tannock – approved judge. The updated list is attached (see below), and will be posted on the CPA website. Change to Senior Judge Criteria A change has been made that a new senior judge will judge with experienced colleagues for the first year. This recognises that…

Strathclyde Police at Cowal Gathering

The above picture shows the front rank of the all-conquering Strathclyde Police Pipe Band in the 1980s playing up the road at the Cowal Games. It comes to us courtesy P/M Barry Donaldson, now of the City of Edinburgh Pipe Band. P/M Donaldson writes: ‘The picture shows the band parading up the street on the Saturday morning. The picture shows [left to right] P/M Ian McLellan, the late Harry McAleer, myself and…

Douglas Elmslie – Funeral Details, Pictures added

Douglas Elmslie, one of the mainstays of the legendary Muirhead & Sons Pipe Band in the 1960s, has died after a short illness. He was 68. His funeral will be held at Daldowie Crematorium, Glasgow, next Friday, January 23rd, at 9am, repeat 9am, and to which all friends and family are respectfully invited. Douglas, or Dougie as he was better known, learned his piping in the 214th Glasgow Company of…