’70s Tribute Band Appeal for Help on Edinburgh Police Medleys/ Florida Pipe & Drum Academy Registrations Open

The 1970s Tribute Pipe Band is in the process of recreating the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band medleys from the early 1970s, writes Ken Stewart. Fortunately we have been able to get the pipe and drum scores for their prize winning performances of the ’70s. ECPPB had their own unique playing style so we would be grateful to anyone who could perhaps assist with audio recordings of either the 1971 or 1972 medley…

Editor’s Notebook: Ivory Pipes/ Florence’s Funeral/ NZ Visit/ Kinross Piping Initiative

The issue of ivory pipes looms large again after recent legislation by the UK Government. Pipes that are pre-1975 can still be bought and sold but only because they contain less than 20% ivory. To trade legitimately in them, however, you must register the pipes with the government. The new legislation states: ‘You cannot deal in items containing or made of elephant ivory, unless they are registered as exempt or…

John MacFadyen on the Art of Judging – Part 3

We continue the recording of John MacFadyen talking about judging. We are once again grateful to reader Jack McLachlan for forwarding the recording made by John Davidson, Parkview, Johannesburg, at his home on 12th August 1973. At the beginning of this part of the recording Mr Davidson mentions some of the well-known worthies of southern African piping of the time, John Farmer, Cyril Hall (Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe) and Nick Kinsey. John…

Editor’s Notebook: Nick’s Medal Ceremony/ Talk Piobaireachd/ Bagpipe Blower/ Pipers’ Persuasion

I mentioned Arthur McAra in my report from Pittsburgh the other day. Another story Arthur related to me when I was over concerned the new 2022 Inverness Gold Medallist Nick Hudson. Arthur was on MC duty at Loon Mountain games in September. Nick was on judging duty with that other well-known US piper Derek Midgley. Derek approached Arthur and explained that Nick had had to leave the Northern Meeting early…

New Humidity Controlled Pipe Case/ NZ Pipe Band Entries

A new pipe case which the manufacturers say controls the humidity around the instrument has been launched by innovations company Flux and McCallum Bagpipes The ‘FLUX Bagpipe Humidity Case’ comes with the tagline: ‘An Environment for A Stable Bagpipe’.  It is described as: ‘Maintaining a constant humidity for your drones, bag and reeds to achieve a consistently rich sound from your pipes.  ‘Constant humidity will increase the longevity of your instrument,…