P/M Robert Mathieson and His Time at Shotts – Part 2

The highlight of World’s Week this year will be the concert ‘Rise’ to be given by the 2015 World Champions, Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band (above). To help set the scene, here’s the second part of a 2010 interview with the band’s pipe major at that time P/M Robert Mathieson…. He [Jim Kilpatrick] has obviously been integral to the success of the band and you and him are seen…

History: Pipe Major Donald MacKinnon, Skye and Australia

A few weeks ago we received a letter from Cailean Maclean of Skye Media and the BBC radio piping programme ‘Crunluath’, regarding Skye piper Donald MacKinnon. Cailean wrote: ‘Do you know anything about Donald MacKinnon, composer of the Sound of Sleat? I know he was from Skye (I am trying to trace his origins here) and that he was a Pipe Major with the KOSBs and served in Korea. Why he was…

New Publicity Release from British Pipe Band Championship Sponsor

Renfrew District Council, sponsor of the first major of the season, have sent this: ‘Paisley will be invaded by a tartan army on Saturday when more than 4,000 of the world’s best pipers and drummers descend on the town for the British Pipe Band Championships. ‘The St James Playing Fields will again host one of the most prestigious events on the world bagpiping calendar, as part of the push towards…

Results from Dundee, Banchory and Gourock

The first weekend of pipe band competition in the 2017 season saw wins for Field Marshal Montgomery in Grade 1 at Bangor in Northern Ireland, MacKenzie Caledonian in the city centre contest at Dundee, Buchan Peterson in Grade 1 at Banchory, Inveraray  at Gourock in the west of Scotland and Fife Police (Grade 1) and Grampian Police (Grade 2) at Dunbar. Though the weather was not as good in Scotland…

First Northern Irish Pipe Band Championship of the Season at Bangor

The Ards and North Down Pipe Band Championships, the first pipe band championship of the 2017 Northern Irish season, was held at Castle Grounds, Bangor on Saturday 13th May, reports John Kelly. The chieftain of the gathering was Alderman Deborah Girvan (Mayor of Ards and North Down) who took the salute and presented the prizes.  The Grade 1 winners were Field Marshal Montgomery (pictured above on their way to the…