PP Editor’s Blog: Edinburgh Police/ John Burgess/ Andy White/ John MacLellan Contest

One thing I forgot to mention in my report on the London Championship 10 days or so ago was breakfast. Not what I had, but who I was sitting with: three Grade Two World Pipe Band Champions no less. They were Dr Jack Taylor who lifted the trophy with Buchan Petersen in 2013, Walter Cowan (left) who did the same as P/M of the Annan Ex-Servicemen’s band and Archie Maclean…

Famous Pipers: John D. Burgess/ Calum Campbell Concert

It is hard to believe that it is ten years since the death of one of the great pipers and characters of the recent past, P/M John D. Burgess. Today we mark this anniversary with a feature on John in our Famous Pipers column. Read it here. A concert is being held in Balivanich Hall, Benbecula, tomorrow night to celebrate the launch of a book of music ‘Ceol Chaluim’ by…

SPA KO/ Audio Archive/ New Letter on the Birl

  Scottish Pipers Association  President Tom Johnstone reports on Saturday’s first round in the SPA 2015-16 Knockout: ‘Finlay Johnston played first and his playing was flawless. He had been judging earlier in the day at the Shotts Juniors but shrugged off any fatigue; his ability still shone through. ‘John Patrick played very well and built up his playing to an exciting climax with a jig selection to finish. Both players gave commentary…

Archibald Campbell: New Letter Published/ Piping Press Pictures/ Space Piper

Thanks to pipemaker Blue MacMurchie we are able today to publish another interesting letter from Archibald Campbell, Kilberry. In it he talks of the Piobaireachd Society’s first series of books in distinctive forthright manner. Read the letter here and thanks to Blue for sending it on. To remind everyone, high-resolution files of many Piping Press pictures are available from the Piping Press Shop: Buy High Resolution Photographs – capture your memories…

Shotts Junior Piping & Drumming Championship – Pictures Added

World Champion Pipe Band, Shotts & Dykehead, held their Annual Junior Piping and Drumming Championship in the town’s Calderhead High School today. There was a very healthy increase in competitors from 103 last year to 154 this. Pipe Major Ryan Canning and Leading Drummer Blair Brown were in Canada on a teaching trip but the event went like clockwork in their absence. North Lanarkshire Council, the local authority, are very…