Piping Press

PP Lockdown Challenge…Friend and composer Eddie McGuire read of the request for paintings and artwork and reminded me of this drawing by artist John Gahagan. It’s not for the competition but might inspire someone. Eddie writes: ‘I see that you are putting up artwork featuring pipers. Here’s the excellent drawing that John Gahagan did for the front cover of the music I wrote for the Glasgow arts festival ‘Mayfest’ in…

Can anything be salvaged from the 2020 piping season? It remains to be seen whether Oban, Braemar (above) and Skye will follow the trail of cancellation evidenced yesterday by the not wholly unexpected call offs from the Northern Meeting and Cowal, writes the Editor. I hope the remaining gatherings can, at least for now, resist the temptation of making too early a decision. All of the competing pipers I have…

In another devastating blow to the piping and pipe band season, the promoters of the Northern Meeting, one of the two top solo events in world piping, have, with reluctance, been forced to cancel their event for 2020. The Meetings, held every summer in Inverness, were due to take place on August 20/20. In a statement today they said: ‘This is to let you know that, with much regret, the…

In a statement issued this afternoon the board of Cowal Highland Gathering, one of the latest in the piping and pipe band calendar, have stated the following: ‘The Board of Cowal Highland Gathering has taken the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus situation. ‘Whilst we understand the decision is disappointing we feel it is the right one to protect the safety of…

I was very sad to learn that Tony Harris, former RSPBA National Councillor, passed away on Friday 10 April 2020 at the age of 89, writes Alistair Aitken.  Tony had been in a care residence for some time near his home in Toddington in Bedfordshire. Tony was born in Wootton Green, a small village in Bedfordshire.  He lived in nearby Stewartby, where his father, uncles and grandfather worked for the…