Editor’s Notebook: Michael Colliery Band/ Solo & Band Season/ Edith MacPherson/ Funeral Details

Reader Gary Clacher: My dad, Adam Clacher, won the World Solo Drumming Championship in 1959 when he was with the Grade 2 Michael Colliery band. Not sure if this has been done before or since by a Grade 2 leading drummer. I wonder if anyone has any photos of my dad, or the Michael Colliery Band, competing? A long shot but photos seem so hard to find from this time….

Brittany’s ‘Pibroch by the Sea’/ New Raasay Competition

Blustery wet weather did nothing to dampen enthusiasm at Brittany’s 20th annual celebration of ceòl mòr, ‘Pibroc’h en Bord de Mer’, held on its north coast on 7th/8th September, writes Dr Jack Taylor. While colleagues battled it out at Braemar and Blairgowrie, players from Brittany and beyond enjoyed playing and hearing the great music just for the sake of it with not a judge in sight. Every performance was greeted…

Review: Braemar Gold Medal 2024

It is seldom that we assemble for breakfast at Braemar the pavilion filled with chat about sun cream. Yet that was the pleasant concern abroad as we judges met for our morning repast. Blue skies, hot sun, pine tree shade, mountain air… and the prospect of some excellent pipe music put a zest into the bacon and eggs and a spring into the heels as we made our way to…

Editor’s Notebook: Piobaireachd Champions/ Joe Noble’s Funeral/ Scots Guards KO Draw/ Kilberry Castle/ Balmoral Classic/ Games Round-Up

All congratulations to Alasdair Henderson and Nick Hudson, pictured above, on winning the two major piobaireachd awards of the summer, the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban and the Clasp at Inverness. Both are first time champions at this level. Why are these the highest ceòl mòr awards in world piping? The tunes are from a set list of the most difficult in the canon, your chosen piece is given only 20…

Editor’s Notebook: World Championship/ Silver Chanter/ Bobby Pinkman/ Ivory Dealer Fined/ CLASP Results/ Games Round Up

To the Worlds today for the first day of Grade 1. It must be the most open championship for years – four different bands have each won one of the foregoing majors. Who’s your money on? I have my own picked out but will not be revealing it here. One thing is sure, whoever emerges on top after this two-day examination by 16 judges will have earned it. Results Saturday…