RSPBA Regradings and Gradings for New Bands

Paul McAndrew, RSPBA Director to the Music Board, has announced that the Board’s Standards and Gradings Group have approved and notified band secretaries of the grading changes detailed below: By request:Novice Juvenile A to Novice Juvenile B – Erskine Stewart’s Melville 4A to 4B – Irvine & District  4A to 4B – Carrigaline – Irish Pipe Band Association recommendation, ratified by RSPBA 4A to 4B – St Lawrence Howth – IPBA recommendation,…

Pipers Play a Leading Role in Historic 1956 Visit to the Western Isles by the Late Queen

With the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last year, I thought some readers might be interested in the two tunes below. They were composed to commemorate Her Majesty’s historic first-ever visit by a British monarch to Scotland’s Western Isles. The year was 1956, and Barra and North Uist were just part of her itinerary.  Accompanying her were Prince Philip and their two children at that time, Prince (now…

Gordon Castle, Fochabers, Results

Thirteen played in the adult competitions. Eight played in the various junior competitions. The weather was cool and remained dry. The competition boards were rather close to each other and this caused the bagpipe sound to be slightly adversely affected, but nevertheless the playing generally was very good. Of course it is always a danger at games venues that there will be extraneous sounds. It is to the credit of the…

Dollar Pipe Band Results

G1: 1 Inveraray 2 Fife Police 3 Boghall; Drumming: BoghallG2: Buchan Peterson 2 Dollar Acad. 3 Portlethen; Drumming B PetersonG3: 1 Macanta 2 MacKenzie Cal. 3 Coalburn IOR; Drumming: Pitlochry & B AthollJuv.: 1 Dollar Acad. 2 Dollar N. Juv 3 Stirling Schools; Drumming: DollarG4a: 1 Burntisland 2 Kirkacldy 3 Camelon; Drumming: BurntislandG4b: 1 Fraserburgh RBL 2 Barrhead 3 City if Discovery; Drumming: FraserburghN Juv A: 1 Dollar Acad. 2…

RSPBA Dundee: Today’s Dollar Contest Details and Draw

A reminder that today is our competition in the grounds of Dollar Academy, say the RSPBA Dundee, Perth & Angus Branch. We have a fantastic line up of pipe bands joining us. We remind bands and the general public that parking will be at the Newfields Sports Ground. In advance, we would like to thank the volunteers who are supporting the event in many roles, and we would also like…