Andrew Wright 1936 – 2022

The death has been reported of Andrew Wright, Dunblane, one of the outstanding pipers and teachers of the post war period. Andrew was 86. He began piping in the Boys Brigade and studied under Peter MacLeod Senior before moving on to P/M Donald MacLeod. It was when playing at the Braemar Gathering that he was called over by judge RB Nicol, Balmoral, who invited him for lessons. Andrew, an engineer…

New Mentoring System for Solo Judges/ George Sherriff Competition

The Solo Piping Judges’ Association is to establish a Mentoring System for Judges, writes Secretary Roderick Livingstone.  Following the Association’s AGM it has been decided that a pool of Senior Judges who are prepared to volunteer their services as mentors to new judges will be formed.  The mentoring process will be available to all new judges irrespective of their initial grading on acceptance. New judges will be required to fully participate…

Festival of Juvenile Solo Piping

Gerard McClumpha, Event Co-Ordinator: Results from our competition held yesterday at Auchenharvie Academy, Stevenston, Ayrshire. It was our usual full packed, competitive event – only just glad to be back up-and-running again, after missing the previous two years. Junior Champion was Owen McCreadie and Senior Champion Gregor Grierson (pictured). 14 yrs & Under 1 Archie Johnston, Oban High 2 Owen McCreadie, Boghall & Bathgate 3 James Silcock, Falkirk Schools4 Caelyn…

Lochnell Intermediate Championship Draw and Submitted Tunes

The Lochnell Intermediate Piping Championship takes place tomorrow, October 22, at the picturesque Lochnell Castle, Argyll, under the auspices of the Argyllshire Gathering Trust. Seven of the world’s top young players will compete in Piobaireachd and March, Strathspey & Reel. The pipers will be given their chosen tunes this evening Friday October 21. There are four prizes in each event: £120, £80, £60, £40. Here are the competitors in order…

Winning the Worlds 50 Years Ago – 1st Port Glasgow BB Celebrate in Style

The 1st Port Glasgow Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band won the World Juvenile Championship in 1972.  The Golden Jubilee was to be celebrated by a parade and dinner on Friday 30th September.  When the day dawned it was raining, only as it can in Inverclyde.  To make matters worse a gale was blowing.  It seemed that Hurricane Ian (their spelling, not mine) had taken a detour from Florida to pay a…