Further to our recent article on the late Bruce Thomson’s tune, Tommy MacDonald of Barguillean, Bruce’s son, Ewan tells us that his father’s talent was admired by Pipe Major Donald MacLeod. The two first met in the late 1940s when Thomson, then serving his National Service in the Gordon Highlanders, […]
Daily News
A small tribute
After our recent report about Pipe Major George MacKenzie, a few readers alerted us to an article that appeared many years ago in the Piping Times. The article was written by one of the magazine’s frequent correspondents in those days, David V. Kennedy. In his article, written shortly after MacKenzie’s […]
Patrick through to SPA KO final
John Patrick from Stirlingshire, Scotland won last night’s semi-final heat in the current Scottish Pipers’ Association Knockout contest. The Kilsyth piper received more of the audience’s votes than other semi finalist, Steven Leask. Patrick, a previous winner of this competition, goes through to the final on May 2 at The […]
SPA votes Logan Tannock as new President
Logan Tannock was voted the new President of the Scottish Pipers’ Association at the organisation’s annual general meeting last night. Logan, who lives in Clackmannanshire in central Scotland, takes over from Tom Johnstone who did not seek re-nomination. Logan was previous Vice-President. Logan is well known face in the piping […]
RSPBA: OSCR closes its file
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has confirmed to bagpipe.news that it will not proceed with a formal inquiry into the financial affairs the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.” Its spokesman, Ian Grieve said in a statement: “‘OSCR has reviewed the requested information provided by the charity and […]
Diary: Closkelt gig / SPA AGM / Sarah Muir Stornoway bound / Celtic Connections 2021
The current Grade 2 Champion of Champions, Closkelt Pipe Band is hosting a concert this spring in Armagh, Northern Ireland. The band was promoted to Grade 1 last September. The concert, entitled ‘2020 Vision’, will take place at the Market Place Theatre in Armagh in County Armagh. Field Marshal Montgomery […]
P.M. James Robertson’s family / Ali Levack / Irish Piobaireachd Society
Tobar an Dualchais, the archival project that digitises, catalogues and disseminates Gaelic and Scots sound recordings online, is seeking information on the surviving family of Pipe Major James Robertson, Gordon Highlanders (b. 1886-d. 1961). Recordings of Robertson, the composer of Farewell to the Creeks, have been discovered – both spoken […]
Appeal for practice chanter / Uist & Barra line-up / Lochaber Piping Society Juniors (and recital)
We kick off today with an appeal for a unique practice chanter. June Ross, a relation of Pipe Major George MacKenzie, Seaforth Highlanders, wishes for the return of the instrument. Unfortunately, we do not have a photograph of it. June says: “It was presented to my great uncle by the […]
Judges for the 2020 majors announced
The judges for this year’s major pipe band championships have been announced by the RSPBA. They are:
P.M. Donald MacLeod Mem. line up / NPC job vacancy / Showcase Scotland /Gary Nimmo at the Vale
The eight pipers who will compete at this year’s Pipe Major Donald MacLeod Memorial Invitational Solo Piping Competition have been confirmed as: Stuart Liddell, Niall Stewart, Iain Speirs, Angus MacColl Snr., Connor Sinclair, Sarah Muir, Willie McCallum,Gordon McCready. The competition will be held on Friday April 3 at the Caladh […]