PP Ed’s Blog: N. Lanarkshire Schools Success/ SSPDT Instructor Wanted/ Vegas Piper/ 1967 Worlds

Congratulations to North Lanarkshire Schools on being named Pipe Band of the Year at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards in Dundee at the weekend. It caps a great year for P/M Ross Cowan and his band coming as it does on top of their success at the Worlds in Novice A. They also continue to make an impression in junior solo contests with NLS pipers taking good prizes at Shotts last Saturday….

PP Ed’s Blog: American Soujourn Day 1

Pittsburgh has indeed thrown off its smokey steel town reputation. Yesterday I was given a tour of the metropolis by Andrew Carlisle and saw for myself the parks, the clean rivers the clean air – a distinct turnaround from the days of belching chimneys and Scot Andrew Carnegie’s industrial empire. That empire has endowed the city with some magnificent buildings and universities however and everywhere you get the feeling of…

PP Editor’s Blog: Greater Glasgow Police Pipe Band

The October 2015 edition of the RSPBA’s ‘Pipe Band’ magazine is now available from the RSPBA website. Readers might also like to download the issues of the magazine from April and July last year which has a full interview with former Glasgow Police P/M Duncan Nicolson. Click on the back numbers option on the RSPBA site. I think it a brave decision by Duncan to stand down after three years in…

Duncan Steps Down at Greater Glasgow Police

Greater Glasgow Police Pipe Band have today issued the following statement: Greater Glasgow Police Pipe Band – Iain MacPherson new P/M ‘Greater Glasgow Police Pipe band announce a change in leadership with Pipe Major Duncan Nicholson swapping roles with Pipe Sergeant Iain MacPherson. ‘Duncan [pictured above left leading the band this season] has led the band for five years, assisted by Iain, and their guidance of the band in partnership…

PP Editor’s Blog: Pipe Band Magazine/Classic Piobaireachd/ SPA/ Piob Soc Conf.

The latest free, digital edition of Pipe Band Magazine will be available from tomorrow. The front cover has a super picture of the new World Champion Pipe Major, Ryan Canning of Shotts & Dykehead. Inside there is an interview with Ryan and another with his Leading Drummer Jim Kilpatrick. In addition the magazine has an extensive picture gallery of Worlds winners. The magazine, the official publication of the RSPBA, then…