Piping Press

With the passing of Bob Shepherd MBE piping and the pipe band community have lost one of its legendary personalities.  Bob will be remembered as a successful pipe band teacher and leader, an innovative manufacturer of piping products as well as someone who played an immense role in the progressive development of pipe band music.  Among his greatest attributes were his depth of understanding of bagpipes and pipe bands, his…

The Glenfiddich Champion for 2019 is Finlay Johnston, successfully defending his 2018 title. He was placed second in ceol mor and second in MSR to take the overall title. Runner-up overall was Connor Sinclair in his first appearance at this competition, with Glenn Brown in third. The annual competition was held as usual in the Great Hall at Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Perthshire. Those unable to travel to the event were able to…

P/M RT (Bob) Shepherd’s family have passed on the following funeral details: The funeral will take place on Tuesday 5 November at 2.15pm at Kirkcaldy Crematorium, Rosemount Avenue, Kirkcaldy KY2 6HQ. Thereafter there will be a get together at the Dean Park Hotel, Chapel Level, Kirkcaldy KY2 6HF. Bob died last Thursday evening aged 81 after a long bout of illness. Tomorrow’s Piping Press will carry a special tribute to…

It is with great regret that we report the passing of P/M RT Shepherd of Cardenden, Fife, and formerly of Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band. Bob was 81 and had been ill for some time. Bob Shepherd was a double winner of the World Pipe Band Championship and proprietor of his own bagpipe making firm. His instruments won countless major awards. As a teacher Bob was unsurpassed taking boys from…

By Donald MacPhee My dad, Pipe Major Alexander “Sandy” Uist MacPhee, passed away on Thursday, October 24th, after contracting pneumonia. When doctors determined he had terminal oesophageal cancer in September, we knew he would not be with us next year. Still, we didn’t think we would lose him so suddenly and quickly. Sandy was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1932. Both his parents Alexandrina Edmonstone, from Plockton Wester Ross and…