I arrived early enough at picturesque Grant Park, Forres, to hear the whole of the Juvenile grade. The young bands taking part were asked to play a March, Strathspey and Reel and all did so with considerable aplomb. Even in my day the Juvenile grade was always very demanding. This brought you on and invariably, once you reached 18, you were ready for Grade 1. So it is today, and…
Solo piping adjudicator Archie Maclean has sent the following: ‘Enjoyed the interesting article on P/M George Ackroyd. Please find attached, a rather creased and tattered photograph cutting from the ‘Oban Times’ (circa. 1939) under the heading ‘Pipe-Majors of the Highland Brigade’. ‘P/M Ackroyd is standing fourth from the left, the only one wearing a feather bonnet. The accompanying text has him as Pipe Major G. Ackroyd (Depot) Black Watch. You’ll make out ‘big’ Donald…
Organiser Margaret Dunn of the National Piping Centre reports: The CLASP (Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers) overall winners from Saturday’s competition at the Army School of Piping, Inchdrewer House, Edinburgh, were as follows: Grade 3 Overall winner – Bianca Kail Grade 2 Overall winner – Gill Cairns Grade 1 Overall winner – Robert Low Grade 1 Piobaireachd 1st Robert Frater 2nd Robert Low 3rd John Frater Grade 2 Piobaireachd 1st Gill…
Former Scots Guards Pipe Major Sandy Davidson died at home last Thursday morning from a suspected heart attack. Sandy (74) was considered a thorough gentleman by those who knew him. He is survived by wife Margaret, son Alex, daughter Gillian, and many grandchildren. Sandy joined the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in Stirling before transferring to the Scots Guards in the early 60s. He became Pipe Major of the 2nd Batt in January…
Two new recordings for the PP Audio Archive of solo piping. They are from SFU’s Alan Bevan and are his actual Gold Medal winning performances from the Northern Meeting in 2008 and the Argyllshire Gathering in 2013. Alan’s tunes are, firstly, Clan MacNab’s Salute and second, the Young Laird of Dungallon’s Salute. The recordings are free to access thanks to Alan’s generosity and your support for our advertisers and the…
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