Piping Press

It is with sadness that we report the sudden passing of Frank Andrews, former Pipe Major of MacNeilstown Pipe Band in Northern Ireland. Frank died suddenly at home last night after collapsing. As drone tuner in chief for Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band he was an integral part of Richard Parkes’s championship winning team. Frank will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He is pictured in the above…

Six hundred boys, girls, parents and tutors gathered at the William McIlvaney Campus in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, yesterday (March 8) for the annual competition. The day was generally considered to be an outstanding success with a high standard of play and great enthusiasm.  There were very good cheques for the winners in all event (see below) and in addition bands got assistance for travel. Eildh MacLeod Endeavour Award: Dundee City Pipe…

The annual contest of the Glasgow Uist & Barra Association was held today in the Otago Street premises of the National Piping Centre. Eleven pipers played in each category. Tunes were selected and given to the pipers one week in advance. Overall champion was Angus MacColl. Piob: 1 Finlay Johnston, Craigellachie 2 Angus MacColl, Phantom Piper of the Corrieyairick3 Iain Speirs, MacLeod of Clobeck’s Lament 4 Glenn Brown, The Edinburgh…

Callum Beaumont came out on top at the semi final of the Scottish Pipers’ Association Knock Out competition held last night in the Otago Street premises of the National Piping Centre. His opponent was Stuart Liddell. There was a substantial crowd and each member of the audience had a vote in who went forward to the final on May 2 where Callum will play against John Patrick. The Irish Pipe…

Covid -19: It is too early to get drastic but all pipers must observe with more vigilance than ever the normal hygiene practices associated with our instrument. Keep that practice chanter clean, wash out the blowstick and bag with warm water and mild disinfectant. Don’t swap and share. Will there may soon be a need for pipe majors to use antiseptic wipes every time they test a chanter or tune…