Drummer William (Billy) Stevenson, Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band

Former Leading Drummer of Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band, William (Billy) Stevenson,  passed away on 5 July 2016 in Australia.  Billy rose to prominence when he was tasked with revitalising the Shotts drum corp after the then leading tip, the legendary Alex Duthart, left the band to join P/M Donald Shaw Ramsay at the heavily sponsored Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band – this in the early 1960s. Bert Barr and…

PP Ed’s Blog: Thoughts on the Worlds Grade 2/ Champion of Champions/ Cowal

Apologies for the delay in my second bulletin from the World Pipe Band Championships; so much going on in piping at this time of year. Before I get to it however I want to reflect on a couple of things. Firstly do you agree with me that the pipe band season is over a little early? Say what you like about Cowal, but it extended things by two or three…

Kinloch Rannoch Games Results

Stuart Easton, Champion Piper at Kinloch Rannoch, is pictured above. Nine pipers played in a competition reported as having the ‘highest standard for years’ with glorious weather, contrary to the BBC forecast. March. 1. Stuart Easton, NZ 2. Simon Marshall, Bathgate 3. William Rowe, NZ 4. Austin Diepenhorst, San Diego S&R 1. Stuart Easton 2. Austin Diepenhorst 3. William Rowe 4. Iain MacDonald Slow Air 1. William Rowe 2. Stuart…

Nairn Games Results

A lovely, warm and sunny day at Nairn. There were only five competitors. The photograph shows the overall joint winners Anna Kummerlöw and Gordon Barclay. Judges: J Hamilton (Piob), R MacLean (Light Music). Piob 1. Anna Kummerlöw (A Piper’s Warning to his Master) 2. Gordon Barclay (MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute) 3. Duncan Watson (The King’s Taxes) 4. Steve Spencer March 1. Gordon Barclay 2. Anna Kummerlöw 3. Steve Spencer 4. Hamish Munro Strathspey/Reel 1….

Full Results from the 2016 Lochaber Gathering – Updated with Pictures, Audio Recording and Comment

There was a very high standard of performance in all grades. The above picture shows (l -r) Ben Duncan, winner of the Lochaber Gold Medal for Marches, Gordon Walker winner of the Strathspey & Reel and Callum Beaumont, winner of the Gold Lochaber Axe ‘An Tuagh Òir’. See below for comments on the playing.  ‘P/A’ Piobaireachd (four own choice tunes submitted) 1 Callum Beaumont, Lament for Hugh (£300) 2 Gordon…