My Reflections on the Pittsburgh Memorial Service for Jimmy McIntosh MBE

On Saturday November 27th, 2021, family and friends gathered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to celebrate the life of Jimmy McIntosh.  This was the second memorial for Jimmy, the first being in Anderson, South Carolina, two weeks before.  I was so glad to be able to attend both.  I have found that I needed both occasions, along with a lot of processing time, to put into perspective Jimmy’s impact on my life…

Editor’s Notebook: ‘Follow Me, I’m Right Behind You’/ Captain John’s Tune/ Ellon Pipe Band/ Alwyne Farquharson

Fascinating insight this week into the making of ‘The Glorious Effect’. By co-incidence I have been in touch with Andy Glen the maker of another bagpipe film. Andy was the man begind the hilarious ‘Follow Me I’m Right Behind You’ about the College of Piping beginners’ pipe band of 2010. Andy is now living in Ayrshire and tells me he plans to hoist the film onto YouTube in the not…

Northern Ireland Pipe Band Update: Richard Garnham/ Cancer Kids Charity/ Web Designer/ Closkelt Concert

There was widespread sorrow across the pipe band community, and in particular the Upper Crossgare Pipe Band, on the passing of their leading drummer Richard Garnham. Pipe Major Mark Rodgers, led the condolences on behalf of the band and conveyed their sympathy to Richard’s wife Elaine, son Ryan and the family circle. Richard is pictured fourth from the right celebrating the band’s success at the UK Championships in 2015. He…

The Making of One of the Finest Films About the Bagpipe and Its Music

Released 40 years ago, this film set the benchmark for piping movies that followed. We are grateful to its director, Mike Healey, for offering us unique insight into its making. Mike now lives and paints in the Lake District where he has held several successful exhibitions of his work…. It is 1980 and our film opens in America at a summer school for piping at the University of California’s campus…

John MacFadyen and Fair Hill Games / Archie Kenneth Quaich Entries Open

An Editor’s Notebook item last week featured results from around the Highland games in the US in 1968. One of the prizewinners mentioned was former professional piper and now senior adjudicator Al McMullin. He writes…. There are always interesting ‘stories’ that are not reflected in results. I offer the following about the ’17 and Under Piobaireachd’ noted in the 1968 results at Fair Hill, Maryland. The late, great, John MacFadyen…