Pipers led the way at events held across the United States of America at the weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001.
Hundreds of commemorative events were held in every part of the country including at Ground Zero where the Pipes & Drums of the Emerald Society of the New York City Police Department led a gathering that included President Joe Biden, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, former Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and former First Lady, Michelle Obama.
2,977 people from around 90 countries were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia. More than 6,000 others were injured.
Most of those who perished were civilians except for 343 members of the New York City Fire Department, 72 policemen and women and 55 Pentagon personnel.
• Since May 2014, a trio of pipers from the Port Authority (of New York and New Jersey) Police Department, New York Police Department and Fire Department of New York perform a tribute each Wednesday at Foundation Hall, near the 58-ton steel beam known as the Last Column.
The tradition began as part of a ceremony held in the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to honour the 12th anniversary of the formal end of the rescue and recovery efforts.
Members of all three bands played at every funeral, memorial service and dedication pertaining to 9/11.
Despite poor advance publicity, there was reported to be a decent turnout of pipers from across the south of England at Harpenden Highland Gathering yesterday.
Held at Rothamsted Park in the Hertfordshire, England town, the event was held in pleasant weather conditions. Roddy Livingstone judged all events.
Results:
Open
Piobaireachd – 1. Steve Cussen; 2. Fraser Stewart; 3. James Stewart.
6/8 March – 1. Steve Cussen 2. James Stewart 3. Fraser Stewart.
March, Strathspey & Reel – 1. James Stewart 2. Fraser Stewart 3. Steve Cussen.
Hornpipe & Jig – 1. Steve Cussen; 2. James Stewart; 3. Graham Waller.
Amateur
Ceòl Mòr – 1. Matthew Kirkwood; 2. William Wardrope; 3. Philip Duthie.
6/8 March – 1. William Wardrope; 2. Alan Vaughan; 3. Laura McEwan.
March, Strathspey & Reel – 1. William Wardrope; 2. Matthew Kirkwood; 3. Philip Duthie.
• Entries are now open to the 81st annual competition of the Scottish Piping Society of London, which will take place at the Caledonian Club on the weekend of November 5-6. Details here.
The National Piping Centre’s Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers (CLASP) is holding this year’s annual a workshop weekend on October 1-2.
This course is open to any amateur piper with an interest in competition solo piping, students attending the course will receive one individual lesson each day, plus the opportunity to cover six set tunes of choice from CLASP’s 2023 Set Tune list.
On the teaching team will be Willie McCallum, Wilson Brown, Chris Armstrong and John Mulhearn. Psychologist, Dr. Fiona McConnochie, will give a presentation on performance. Dr. McConnochie is also piper.
Two time zones are offered (09:00am and 15:00.
• For further information and to register.
