Piping Press

Lonach Highland Gathering and Games and its iconic march were due to be held on Saturday, 22 August. Their cancellation is a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. This is the first time since 1945 that the gathering and the march of the Lonach Highlanders, a 220-strong body of men dressed in kilts and full Highland regalia, have not been held, writes Ian MacLaren. Held in the Aberdeenshire village of Bellabeg in Strathdon, the…

By Bill McCall As a regular reader of Piping Press it was a privilege to support last year’s competition to compose a tune for Flight Lieutenant John A Cruikshank VC. Indeed it was a pleasure to attend the formal luncheon at the Royal Northern & University Club (RNUC) in Aberdeen where, by happy coincidence, Mr Cruikshank and I are both members. A glittering array of his fellow members of the…

The committee of the gathering report: ‘As a result of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, Braemar Royal Highland Charity and the organising committee of the Braemar Gathering have decided to take the difficult but necessary decision to cancel this year’s event. ‘Whilst we know the decision will be disappointing for many, we feel it is the right one to protect the safety of the local community, competitors, spectators and officials many…

The PP Lockdown Challenge continues and here is a tune from Ian Ruari Finlayson and his son Hector, appropriately named ‘Confined to Barracks’: Ian Ruari: ‘Hector is 12 years old and pupil of Niall Stewart, Kyle of Lochalsh. That is Rassay to the far right of picture and Skye on the left in the distance.’ All tune submissions will be judged by P/M Barry Donaldson and winners announced later so…

By The Editor Sources tell me that the Government’s roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions, to be announced this weekend, will be set out in five phases. These phases will be on a three week rolling programme. The phases would commence on the following dates: Phase 1 – 18th MayPhase 2 – 8th JunePhase 3 – 29th JunePhase 4 – 20th JulyPhase 5 – 10th August If coronavirus cases begin to…