Editor’s Notebook: 100 Years of PS Books/ Jimmy McIntosh Scholarship/ Piping Festival

One hundred years ago, in a large house in the Cairngorm woods, the finishing touches were being put to a book which was to alter the course of piping history. Sheriff Iain Grant, Music Committee Secretary for the Piobaireachd Society, was preparing to send off to the printer the first edition of Book 1 in its new collection. This was the Society’s second go at putting together a selection of…

Draw for UK PB Championships/ Dollar Go Ahead/ American PB Championship

The RSPBA have announced the draw for the first major pipe band championship of the season, the UKs at Bangor, Northern Ireland. The Grade 1 draw for the UKs is as follows: 1 Inveraray 2 Johnstone 3 Police Scotland 4 Closkelt 5 Scottish Power 6 Boghall 7 FMM 8 SLOT 9 Shotts 10 Fife Police. Check out other grades here. In a boost for bands, Dundee, Perth and Angus Branch of the association have confirmed…

Atholl Gathering Latest/ 100 Guineas Results from South Africa

Piping Convenor Jack Taylor has passed on the following update on entries for the popular Atholl Gathering to be held on May 26 at Blair Atholl. Dr Taylor advises: Players should keep an eye on the entry form for the current position. https://forms.gle/JmXjHKpj9AoB19Fd8 C Piobaireachd is full with 25; 4 reserves, room for one more reserve. B Piobaireachd has 24 entries. Will cap at 25, and take five reserves. Light music is…

Gordon Stewart Clark  1937-2024

Gordon Clark, prizewinning piper, games organiser and member of the Atholl Highlanders Pipe Band, has died aged 87. Gordon was born near Aboyne in Aberdeenshire. Being the son of a piper it was always likely he would follow in his dad’s footsteps. And so it turned out. In his early teens Gordon learned from his father in their home near Aberfeldy. Following National Service, Gordon set sail for New Zealand…

Editor’s Notebook: Balloch Games/ Over 50s Contest/ Piping Tutor/ Contests and Seminar/ Eilidh’s Trust

The news that Balloch Games has been scrapped is both disappointing and bewildering. Disappointing because this was always a popular games right at the start of the Glasgow Fair holidays, this year on July 13. Balloch launched a full week of other piping competitions at the likes of Inveraray, Lochearnhead, Tobermory, Luss (before the day was changed), and the island games. It’s bewildering because the crowds at the wee town…