Putting the Record Straight on Our World Pipe Band Champions

I am grateful to reader Trevor Clydesdale for forwarding this list of winners from the first Cowal Championship in 1906, writes the Editor. These bands were considered the World Champions of their day and deserve to be showered with the same accolades as the champions of today. Yet they feature not in the official RSPBA Worlds programme produced for that championship each year. Perhaps these winners did not have the…

Wheel of Fortune Contest Returns/ SPA Draw Announced

City of Edinburgh Pipe Band has announced the return of the legendary Pipe Major’s Wheel of Fortune competition, writes Paul White, Band Secretary. The Golden Chanter is set to spin again – for the first time since 2017 – on Saturday 29 April 2023 at Danderhall Miners Club, Midlothian. Eight top pipers have agreed to pit their wits against each other and the Wheel. The line-up is: John Dew, Cameron…

Editor’s Notebook: Clan MacRae and the Worlds/ Donald’s Fingers/ Bellows Pipes Sale/ PS AGM

Kenny Macleod has responded to this week’s story on the Clan MacRae band. Kenny: ‘My uncle Alec Macleod was the P/M of the Clan MacRae when they won the Grade 1 Worlds in 1953 [left of the trophy, facing], and my father Jimmy, pictured third from the left, was the pipe sergeant. ‘He left the band in 1968 and started the Glasgow Skye Association band along with Eddie MacLellan, who…

Bid to Save Bonnet Maker Tradition/ RSPBA Summer School Announced

Businessman Philip Pass has been in touch about an unfortunate development regarding Highland dress….. ‘Dear  Kind  Piping  Press Folk, If you haven’t already heard, recent changes at Robert  Mackie,  manufacturers of traditional Scottish bonnets since 1845 means that  Scotland has  just lost  its  last  bonnet production line  and  Stewarton, in Ayrshire,  known as  ‘the  Bonnet Toun’  since the 1600s,  its  last  and only bonnet maker. ‘And if the collective ‘we’ do…

Significant Changes Announced for Forthcoming SPA Professional/ Virginia Tattoo Band Entries and Prizemoney

This year’s Scottish Pipers Association Professional Competition will be held in the Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow, on 22 April, writes President Logan Tannock. Due to lack of entries in the Open category, we have had to combine the Open and B Grade light music. The Open and B Grade Piobaireachd will remain separate. We have seven entries in the former. Our committee has agreed that we will keep the…