History: Grangemouth Boys Pipe Band and a First Picture of Muirhead & Sons

I came across the photograph above in my great-grandfather’s collection. This is a copy I made in the days of negative film – the original is lost, writes reader Donald McLean It shows the Grangemouth Boys Pipe Band circa 1927-28. Of note for me is that seated second from left is my godfather John Ross (1909-1988). I spotted a reference to the Grangemouth Boys winning the Juvenile prize at the…

Silver Chanter Back Home on the Isle of Skye

The Silver Chanter trophy is now safely ensconced in its new home at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college on the isle of Skye. In the photograph Robert Wallace, President of the Society and the new promoters of the recital/competition, is pictured handing the trophy over to Dr J Decker Forrest of Sabhal Mòr. The chanter will be housed in a display cabinet at the college library/museum with accompanying photographs…

Inveraray Games Piping Draws/ Ceres Games/ CPA Bronze Medal/ Aberfeldy Games

Brian Spalding, the Piping Convenor, has published the draws for Inveraray Games to be held on July 16 in the Argyllshire village. P/A Piobaireachd playing order: E Ianetta-MacKay, C May, J Elder, A Henderson, C Watson, A MacColl, G Canning, S Leask, C Armstrong, D Urquhart, A MacPhee, S Muir, C Beaumont, S Cameron, B Duncan, J Mulhearn, C Sinclair, N Smith. P/A March and S&R: C Muirhead, B Watson-Massey,…

Can Anyone Help Me Find Out More About My Father?

Reader Alison Willasey-Wilsey has written, ‘I wonder if Piping Press readers can assist me in finding out more information about my father now deceased.  ‘He said that he joined the Aberdeen and Dundee Pipe Band of the Royal Engineers in 1937. ‘He was subsequently called up to the Royal Engineers when war broke out in 1939. I know he was in a pipe band as a young boy in Aberdeen…

Editor’s Notebook: Dumbarton Draw/ General Thomason’s Sword/ Lorient Festival/ Scots Guards KO

The RSPBA have published the draws for the next pipe band championships, the Scottish at Dumbarton. In Grade 1 there are ten bands playing in the following order: Fife Police, Shotts, Scottish Power, Johnstone, FMM, SLOT, Boghall, Closkelt, Police Scotland and Inveraray. Judges are John Wilson, Peter Hunt, Stuart Coils and Tom Brown. The contest is not until July 27 so bands have five weeks to prepare. After that the…