Tag: Bagpipe Stories

Editor’s Notebook: Balloch Games/ Over 50s Contest/ Piping Tutor/ Contests and Seminar/ Eilidh’s Trust

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The news that Balloch Games has been scrapped is both disappointing and bewildering. Disappointing because this was always a popular games right at the start of the Glasgow Fair holidays, this year on July 13. Balloch launched a full week of other piping competitions at the likes of Inveraray, Lochearnhead, Tobermory, Luss (before the day was changed), and the island games. It’s bewildering because the crowds at the wee town…

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Historian Comments on Campsie Controversy and Reveals Discovery of Oldest Pipers’ Contract

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In response to recent comments, the cases of Alistair Campsie and Simon Fraser are quite different. When the Fraser material in the National Library of Scotland was ‘opened’ to research I did some work on the subject for the late Roddy Cannon. Although Fraser’s MS could be seen as an alternative approach or style, the problem was the claim that it was writ on tablets of stone directly from the…

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Tributes for Major John Allan/ MacLean Games Results from Australia

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Reader Neil Angus Gillies: ‘The passing of Major Jock Allan is sad news indeed. What’s missing from reports is mention of the years Major Allan spent teaching at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh. ‘This was after he left the Army School of Piping, the school being located a stone’s throw from Edinburgh Castle. He was Chief Piping Instructor at Heriot’s throughout the 1990s and 2000s and every pupil that received tutelage…

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Piobaireachd Society Announce Set Tunes for 2025/ UK Champs Reminder/ Ross’s Recordings

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The Music Committee of the Piobaireachd Society has recommended the following tunes for the Silver and Gold Medal competitions at the Northern Meeting and Argyllshire Gathering 2025. Gold Medal: Prince’s Salute, Lament for the Departure of King James, Lady Margaret MacDonald’s Salute, Stewarts’ White Banner, Ronald MacDonald of Morar’s Lament, Young Laird of Dungallon’s Salute, MacLeans’ March, A Son’s Salute to his Parents. Four tunes to be submitted. Young Laird…

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Major John M. Allan MBE 1934-2024

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The death has been reported of Major John Allan MBE. He passed away peacefully at Castlehill Care Home, Cradlehall, Inverness. He was 89. Major Allan (Queen’s Own Highlanders) was Director of Army Bagpipe Music from 1981–1990. Only last week his former graduates at the school presented him with a tune as a thank you for all he did for them during their time at the Army School then based in…

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