Piping Teacher Wanted for Glasgow Schools as P/M Peter MacInnes, Scots Guards, Retires

Following the retirement of P/M Peter MacInnes (above), Glasgow schools are looking for a new piping tutor with the intention of forming a schools band. The job pays £33 – £44k per year for 35 hours a week and its based in the City Halls in Albion Street in the heart of the Merchant City district. The blurb reads: ‘Glasgow City Council is seeking to appoint an Instructor of Piping…

Northern Ireland Report for August and September

Twenty bands and 30 drum majors from Northern Ireland attended the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow in an overall entry of 190 bands and 44 drum majors from 15 countries. The only World title claimed by an NI Branch band was G3A by Tullylagan, together with the drum corps title. This was a great achievement for a band celebrating its Centenary. Only ten prizes were annexed by NI bands…

Editor’s Notebook: Worlds and Nat/ Old Boggies Celebrate/ Bill’s New Job/ MacKay Cairn/ Angus’s Winning Jig

There has been quite a lot of overheated speculation about the Worlds and Nat Russell, most of it rather wide of the mark. I have gathered considerable information on what actually happened and what Mr Russell’s placings were but cannot in all honesty share it with you. Nothing would be gained by such exposure. Nat Russell is a Worlds-winning Pipe Major. He is a senior adjudicator with 60 years dedication…

History of the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band – Part 3

It is believed that Hamish McColl MM was Pipe Sergeant when Willie Fergusson retired and he was unanimously appointed Pipe Major. McColl held the position for 18 months, a relatively short tenure, but maintained the competition standard.  For reasons unknown, he moved to the Rutherglen Rechabites band and was replaced in the MacRae by John Findlay Nicoll.  He continued the band’s incredible success and emulated Pipe Major Fergusson’s famous 1920s…

All Ireland Solo Piping & Drumming: News, Results and Comment

This competition was held last Saturday (Sept.16) in a school in Lusk, north of Dublin. It was very well attended by pipers and drummers from both the north and south of Ireland, writes the Editor. Hosts were the Irish Pipe Band Association. They share responsibility for the contest with the RSPBA Northern Ireland. IPBA President Con O’Conaill announced at the prize-giving that he was standing down after 47 years service….