Piping Press

One hundred years ago, on the seventh of August 1919, Donald Ramsay was born a farmer’s son near the West Lothian village of Torphichen, Bathgate. He began his piping under Alexander ‘Sandy’ Forrest, pipe major of the local band and a noted pupil of John MacDougall Gillies. By Robert Wallace Donald immediately showed great promise and soon won everything available to him in the amateur ranks venturing north to the…

A first look today at the new, £1m custom refurbishment of the RSPBA’s Headquarters in Washington Street, Glasgow. Sanctioned by the Association’s Board of Directors three years ago, the new building is scheduled for opening in May or June of next year. Fire, caused by a faulty radiator, severely damaged the main headquarters building in 2017. An insurance claim of £120,000 was paid and added to the substantial building fund…

The death has been reported in New Zealand of one of the great pipe band side drummers of the 20th century, Robert Turner. Robert was trained in the 214 Boys Brigade pipe band in Glasgow and after winning all the Juvenile titles with that band went on to take over as leading tip of the legendary Muirhead & Sons Pipe Band. There he won five World Championships in a row…

This year again, ‘Pibroch by the Seaside’ at Cancale (Brittany) was a success. This was the 15th year of the event. The weekend started on Saturday 14th September with a piobaireachd workshop which attracted pipers from various parts of the world, France, Holland and California, under the expert guidance of Jakez Pincet, Pierre Gallais and Hervé Le Floc’h, with the support of the Piobaireachd Society. The following day, as every year,…

Congratulations to the amazing Steven McWhirter for his tenth World Solo Drumming title, clearly now the Alex Duthart or Jim Kilpatrick of today. Only one Scot in the top list, so well done too to Grant Cassidy of Uddingston Strathclyde for flying the flag. Grant is a protégé of the late Bert Barr, brilliant drummer, brilliant teacher and Alex’s loyal sidekick. A word for all the pipers who slaved throughout…