Les Cowell 1933 – 2025

It is with sincere regret that I record the passing of Les Cowell of David Naill Bagpipes. He was 91 and had been ailing for some time. Les began his piping career in the Boys Brigade in London and as a junior picked up prizes in local contests. I remember him once coming to the College of Piping, digging out old copies of the Piping Times, there to find his…

Advertising Feature: McCallum Bagpipes

In just over 25 years McCallum Bagpipes, based near Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, have become probably the biggest quality bagpipe manufacturers in the world. Their instruments go to all pipe-playing nations in North and South America, Asia, Oceania and Europe. Their factory is leading the way in using robotic manufacturing equipment to take much of the tedium out of the pipe making process. The firm employs 32 people, some part time,…

Atholl Gathering 2025 Full Results – Updated with Comment and Pictures

The Atholl Gathering was held yesterday (May 25) in the grounds of Blair Castle, Perthshire. Seventy-three solo pipers, junior and senior, entered meaning an early 9.30am start. The weather was a mix of cold wind, heavy rain and sunshine. There were graded senior contests for piobaireachd. March, Strathspey and Reel and Hornpipe & Jig were open. The ceòl beag was split into four heats with four pipers in each progressing…

Gordon Castle Games Results/ James Campbell Medal

Gordon Castle Games are the first outdoor solo piping competition of the summer. They are held in the castle grounds near Fochabers in Morayshire. Seventeen entered the senior events. Piobaireachd: 1 Hamish Munro 2 Angus MacPhee, Old Men of the Shells 3 James MacPetrie 4 Hector Munro, King’s Taxes 5 Keith Bowes, Desperate BattleMarch: 1 Hamish Munro 2 Hector Munro 3 Norman Gillies 4 Keith BowesS&R: 1 Angus MacPhee 2…

Editor’s Notebook: Gourock Contest/ Kohima Tune/ Michael the Monk/ JB Robertson

No Grade 1 bands at Gourock last Sunday. Perfect weather, good transport. Where were Glasgow & the West’s Shotts, Police Federation, Scottish Power, Inveraray and Johnstone? In my day this branch was the heartbeat not only of Scotland’s pipe banding but of the world movement itself. The first contest of the year would have had the top bands clamouring for an early season run out. Was it lack of notice,…