History: Rare Pictures of John Ban MacKenzie

We are very grateful to reader Francis Chamberlain for sending us these pictures of the great piper John Ban MacKenzie 1796 -1864. MacKenzie was piper to the Marquis of Breadalbane from 1843, and to the Highland Society of Scotland. He was famous for being able to make every component part of the bagpipe and playing the resultant instrument as ‘a master of his creation’. Above is a picture of how…

History: Competition Wins by the Pipe Band of the 214 Glasgow the Boys’ Brigade 

The funeral of Hector Russell takes place at Cardross Crematorium tomorrow, October 5, at 2.15pm. It is hard to believe that this article was submitted by him to Piping Press less than a month ago, on September 13. His words to the Editor accompanying the article make poignant reading: ‘Robert, I hope this travels okay. Tell me please if it arrives. It is almost complete as may be seen but…

Editor’s Notebook: Circle Formation/ Royal Piper/ NZ Judges/ Band Medleys/ 1st Port Poem

Those bands getting themselves into a tizzy over the prospect of a change to the circle formation can rest easy. It ain’t ever going to happen. There has been considerable huffing and puffing since my last foray into this forbidden zone. The ‘we love the circle campaign’ is in full swing. Like us all, bands are change averse and are happy with the status quo. Why should pipers and drummers…

Captain John MacLellan Solos Results

‘P’ Piob1 Finlay Johnston, £3002 Iain Speirs, £2403 Callum Beaumont, £2004 Stuart Liddell, £1805 Glenn Brown, £160 ‘P’ MSR1 Stuart Liddell, £1902 Callum Beaumont, £1603 Iain Speirs, £1304 Glenn Brown, £1105 Finlay Johnston, £80 Eight entered the ‘P’ Grade events; Overall: Iain Speirs ‘A’ Piob1 Sarah Muir, £2502 Steven Leask, £2003 Cameron Macdougall, £1804 Innes Smith, £1405 Andrew Donlon, £100 ‘A’ MSR1 Steven Gray, £1502 Matt Wilson, £1203 Greig Canning,…

Allan K Chatto OAM 1932-2022

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Allan Chatto OAM. Allan was well known and highly respected internationally for his enthusiasm and commitment to pipe band drumming and pipe bands.  Born in Sydney, Australia, in 1932, he started his interest in pipe bands as a learner piper in the local St George Pipe Band in 1948.  He then changed drumming and joined the Dulwich Hill Junior…