Editor’s Notebook: Field Marshal/ Visiting Walter/ Neil Fraser/ Games Reminders/ Tutor Wanted

There was an anonymous comment on PP yesterday regarding Field Marshal Montgomery and their win at the Scottish Pipe Band Championships on Saturday. It questioned their success. It has been deleted. Will commentators please be aware that if they are going to be controversial, and nothing wrong with that, they really need to be accountable for what they say. The writer asked if I was at the Scottish and was…

Northern Ireland News: Antrim/ Ards/ All Irelands/ East Ireland/ UK Championships

The pipe band season is now in full swing and here is a round up of events so far. On Saturday June 28th the Antrim & Newtownabbey Championships took place in Antrim’s beautiful Castle Gardens. Whilst there wasn’t wall to wall sunshine, it was extremely hot. The highlight of the day was always going to be the appearance of the Field Marshal Montgomery (front rank pictured above) under its new…

Inveraray Games Results (updated with comment)

Dank start gave way to dry conditions. Overall champion was Ben Duncan (pictured above). Very healthy entries throughout the grades: 18 in the P/A Piobaireachd, 25 in the B and 25 in the C. Piping Convenor Brian Spalding said there were more than 100 players across all contests. This was a very well run games. Cover for the pipers and judges, and very efficient stewarding. P/A Piob1 Stuart Liddell, Lord Lovat’s…

150th Anniversary Gold Medal at Oban

As we approach August, the piping side of things for this year’s Argyllshire Gathering is in a pretty good place, writes Piping Steward John Campbell. Torquil Telfer deserves most of the plaudits on that score.  This year is a very special one for the Oban Gold Medal. Here is some information about it and a few photos. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Highland Society of London Gold Medal…

Editor’s Notebook: William Fraser & Bob Brown/ Desperate Battle Event/ Newtonards Contest/ Weekend Solos

I discovered this old picture in a rummage through the PP library. It is of one William Fraser the man who started Bob Brown on the chanter. Little did he know the favour he was doing piping. Brown went on to have further lessons from P/M George Allan [he of the Donald MacLeod hornpipe] and then John MacDonald, Inverness, and the rest you know, or should know. Jimmy McIntosh’s excellent…