Australian Pipe Band Championships Entries Close, International Judges Announced

By Chris Earl, President, Pipe Bands Australia Entries are now closed for Diamond Jubilee year Australian Pipe Band Championships. Bands from every state and Singapore have entered championships to be held in Maryborough, Victoria, on 4 and 5 April.  The championships are being hosted by Maryborough Highland Society for the second time. The society also hosted the first Australian titles in January 1961 following formation of the Australian Federation of…

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Band Spotlight: Pipes & Drums of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Part 2

We conclude Gilbert Cromie’s excellent article on the origins of the RUC pipe band, now the Police Service of Northern Ireland Pipes & Drums. Read Part 1 here.. Newly promoted, success in Grade 2 for the RUC was not easily achieved. The main challengers were the re-formed McDonald Memorial and the McNeillstown, Syerla and Dromara bands. But the RUC did manage wins at the Ulster, County Antrim and County Fermanagh…

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Bagpipe Cruise Delayed Due to Coronavirus

The promoters of the ‘2020 Dojo University Bagpipe Caribbean Cruise’ have announced that it has been delayed stranding pipers in Newark NJ. The press release: ‘Distraught bagpiping students from all over the world have been left scrambling to find lodging for the night after a Coronavirus scare aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas prevented them from boarding. ‘More than 60 students and guests found out about the delay…

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Charities Regulator Throws Out ‘Complaint’ Against the RSPBA

By The Editor The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association have been notified by the Office of Scottish Charities Register (OSCR) that they will be taking no action against the Association following allegations of impropriety. The RSPBA’s Board of Directors have today issued this statement: ‘Following our previous statement on 20th January 2020 regarding the articles in the national press and our discussions with the Office of Scottish Charities Register (OSCR),…

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