Latest Information on New Regulations Governing the Manufacture of African Blackwood Pipes

By Robert Wallace We now have further information from the UK Government on the changes to the law surrounding the future manufacture of pipes from African blackwood. Within the European Union sales of finished goods will be unaffected; not so elsewhere. From January 2nd, 2017, African blackwood, melanoxylon dalbergia, will be listed on Appendix 2 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Owing…

History: The British Legion Contest 1969 Part 2

As I said in our first look at this competition from nearly half a century ago, the programme contains some candid thoughts and interesting comments, writes the Editor. This first part may bring a lump to the throat of many an old soldier who reads it, and in this year of the Somme centenary we should remember that in 1969 many who fought there would still be around to relive the…

PP Ed’s Blog: Judging Debacle/ NPC Juniors/ Martin at New Year/ Boghall Concert/ Blackthorn

The interesting aspect of the Argyllshire Gathering’s statement on the recent judges debacle is the very fact that they were prepared to say anything at all. Reading between the lines they clearly have misgivings about this shameful ruling, a ruling based on no evidence but which implicitly (perhaps explicitly) deems that there has been corruption in the past and that the judges themselves have admitted it. Oban have said they will…

History: The British Legion Scotland Solo Piping Competition of 1969

As I mentioned in an earlier comment on the Edinburgh scene, writes the Editor, the British Legion’s solo contest used to be one of the highlights in the capital’s piping calendar. It was open to all serving soldiers, those who had done their National Service, who were attached to Territorial Army units or were members of British Legion pipe bands. My copy of the 1969 programme seems to indicate that it…

Argyllshire Gathering Issue Statement on Recent Judges Debacle

One of the world’s top competitions for solo piping, the Argyllshire Gathering, has issued the following statement with regard to the recent controversy surrounding the perceived conflicts of interests among solo piping adjudicators. Torquil Telfer, Piping Steward at the AG: ‘The Argyllshire Gathering will co-operate with the new ruling adopted by the Solo Piping Judges Association concerning the perceived conflict with tutors judging pupils at our competitions. ‘Each year, in early…