The Northern Meeting Highland Society of London Gold Medal 2016 – A Review

Today, in the second of our reports from the 2016 Northern Meeting piping competition, editor Robert Wallace reviews the contest for the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal…. At 8.30am on the big day I parked my backside in the main auditorium at Eden Court Theatre for an eight-hour listen to one of the most important contests in world piping. On first (not easy) was Dr Peter McCalister playing the Lament for MacSwan…

Judging, the Media and the Need for Fairness and Transparency

Well, we are where we are. But where are we? And are we where we want to be? Shouldn’t we be somewhere else? And if so how do we get from where we are to where we want to be? Don’t worry I’m baffled too, and I offer this writhing gobbledygook as an example of the sort of Rumsfeldian (known knowns etc.) mash talk ‘prose’ you will not find in the pages…

PP Ed’s Blog: Charity Figures/ Ross’s Baby/ Duncan MacDougall/ London Reminder

The Office of Scottish Charities Register (OSCR) has made the following account details concerning the College of Piping, the National Piping Centre and the Piping Live festival available to the public.   The College of Piping show an income of £544,896 and outgoings of £609,356 – a deficit of £64,460 – in their latest figures posted on 29th January this year. The National Piping Centre show an income of £2,157,165…

PP Editor’s Blog: Hamish Henderson/ Virginia Tattoo/ Murray Henderson/ Funding for Youngsters

Terrific programme the other night on the late Scottish poet, songwriter and folklorist Hamish Henderson (left). Well done to Producer Alasdair MacCuish and his Bees Nees team, and to broadcaster MG Alba for a real quality show which did the great man full justice. Poignant film of the late Martyn Bennett on smallpipes accompanying Hamish on ‘Freedom Come All Ye’ and remarkable, historic footage of the Pipes and Drums of various…

Virginia Tattoo Contest Opens Doors to Grade Three Pipe Bands

Organisers of the Virginia International Tattoo Pipe Band Competition have sent details of their 2017 event. There is no information as yet of Grade 1 bands taking part. The above picture shows P/Ms Douglas Murray and Stuart Liddell leading the massed bands in Amazing Grace at last April’s competition. The release reads: ‘The Tattoo will host the Second Annual Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship on April 29, 2017,…