A New Tune for Major John M. Allan MBE

Earlier this month, seven former pipers from the Queen’s Own Highlanders visited Major John Allan MBE at Castlehill Care Home, Cradlehall, Inverness. The purpose of the visit was to present John, now 89, with a new piobaireachd as a thank you for all that he did for those Army pipers who had the good fortune to attend the various courses run at the Army School of Bagpipe Music (ASBM), Edinburgh…

Very Large Entry for Annual Scottish Pipers’ Association Professional Competition

Entries for the Scottish Pipers’ Association annual professional competition are oversubscribed in all grades except P/A Piobaireachd, President Logan Tannock has announced. Entries close on Sunday, March 24. Nine have entered the P/A Piob so far. Other grades have 25 plus pipers lined up with a waiting list in lieu of cancellations in place. The competition is sponsored by the Piobaireachd Society, and the Competing Pipers’ Association. Pipers entered are…

Vintage Bagpipe For Sale

Well known piper Colin Campbell, Aberlour, is selling a vintage J&R Glen bagpipe.  Colin writes: The pipes are half Sterling silver on ebony. The wood is in superb condition: no splits, repairs or cracks.   The only blemishes are two tiny marks on the blowstick bulb and some surface marking on the bass drone top’s ivory. The pipes are so good I had silver put on them in 2008 by a…

Setting the Record Straight on Reid v Ross in the 1923 Gold Clasp

We are very grateful to piping historian Jeannie Campbell for helping us put the record straight regarding the tie for the Clasp between Willie Ross and Robert Reid at the 1923 Northern Meeting. Jeannie has produced two pieces of corroborating evidence which show that Craigie Calder (see last weeks’s story here) was misled in his assertion that the award should have been split between the two piping titans. Jeannie has…

Editor’s Notebook: Piobaireachd Society Conference/ Three Tenors/ Ian Green/ Northern Meeting/ Band News

Places are filling up well for next weekend’s Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference, March 22 – 24 in the Royal George Hotel, Perth. Fees are £200 for a single room and £300 for a double. This includes two nights bed and breakfast, and lunch and dinner on the Saturday. Day tickets are £15 and include lunch. We will meet on the Friday for informal drinks, a meal and perhaps a tune or…