We hear that the life of Evan MacRae (1922-1991), who is mentioned briefly in the Lochaber Gathering report from 1996 (below), will be the subject of a new book. Evan is remembered by many in Lochaber today from his time there working as a piping instructor in the schools. Born […]
Roderick MacDonaldwas born on South Uist in 1901. He was a member of Glasgow City Police Pipe Band from 1923 to 1956. He served under two Pipe Majors, Willie Gray, then the famous John MacDonald, his brother. At the Argyllshire Gathering, Roderick won the March in 1928, the Strathspey and […]
Peter Bain was a prominent piper and judge of the post-war era. Taught his piping by William MacDonald, Lairg, Peter joined the Scots Guards in 1927 and was appointed Pipe Major of the Holding Batt. in 1941 then the 4th Batt. In 1944-45 he was Pipe Major of the 2nd […]
The first ‘Piper Above all Others’ competition was an invitational one that was held in Glasgow from the late 1970s to the early-mid 1980s. Andrew Wright won it in 1979, Donald MacPherson in 1980, Pipe Major Angus MacDonald in 1981. Fred Morrison won the 1985 one. The 1980 competition is […]
With the 2020 invitational solo piping competition organised by The Glasgow Uist and Barra Association coming up on March 7 at The National Piping Centre Otago Street, we found the following critique from the 1978 competition interesting. Competing that day were many who have become some of our leading judges […]
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 […]
Cowal Highland Gathering may not be the piping and pipe band event it once was but its organisers are celebrating winning a leading tourism prize. Cowal has just been awarded the Best Cultural Event or Festival title at last weekend’s The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards. Cowal beat the HebCelt […]
By Dougie Pincock I was very pleasantly surprised a couple of weeks ago to be contacted by Piping Times editor, Stuart Letford and asked to make this contribution to the Bagpipe.News Blog. I met Stuart when I was an instructor at The Piping Centre (before it was National!), and hearing […]
• From the June 2005 Piping Times By David Murray Chatting on the telephone to Captain Stephen Small of the Army School of Piping the other day, Stephen mentioned that he had just had attended a course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. “Tactics?” I enquired. “No, no”, said Stephen, […]
• From the October 2000 Piping Times. By David Murray With the Edinburgh Tattoo season over for yet another year, it seems to me that it’s a good time to ponder a little on the now accepted arrangements for band, pipes and drums, not to mention the choir, which are […]
