Gordon Duncan (1964-2005) inspired a whole generation of pipers in his own lifetime in a way no piper has ever done before or since. As the December 2015 edition of the Piping Times stated, his influence on the current generation is apparent even though some are perhaps too young to […]
Legendary Scottish piper, Ian Duncan’s 50 years’ service with the Atholl Highlanders, was recognised at Blair Castle last weekend. Also recognised was Drum Major Alister Walker, another well-known face in Perthshire. Alister is also one of three Drum Majors in local band, the Vale of Atholl. Ian and Alister were […]
In-person tickets are among the audience options for this year’s Piping Live! festival. The National Piping Centre (NPC) has taken the latest official advice on the Coronavirus and is able to have a reduced audience for its concerts and shows during the nine-day festival. Online ticket options remain. The ticketed […]
A painting by an English artist but with a Scottish subject drew attention at an online auction held last month. The Piper who played the retreat at Tobruk [pictured] is an oil on canvas painting by Winifred Nicholson. The Cornish painter created the piece in 1952 and it stands 2ft […]
Alex Duncan, son of Ian and Chris Duncan, died today in hospital in Edinburgh. He was 26 years old. Alex had been in hospital for a week. Alex Duncan was a first class piper. Taught as a child by Dougie Reid, Perth and father Ian, Alex’ two biggest piping influences […]
Following the success of its online competition in March, CLASP – the Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers – is planning more remote competitions. Entries are now open for two new competitions in June and August – the annual end of season contest on June 20 and the annual World […]
The World Pipe Band Championships of 1978 were held in the town of Lanark. In those days the flagship event in the pipe band world was not held in the same place each year. The weather conditions weren’t great that day. The Worlds that year was notable in that Bob […]
By MacGregor Kennedy A round up of the 1984 Glenfiddich Piping Championships Everybody knows someone who could not organise a booze-up in a distillery, so most people who attend the Grant’s Scotch Whisky Piping Championships are perfectly well aware that the smooth-running machine which gives them so much pleasure at […]
Mark Stewart has been appointed Pipe Major of the Vale of Atholl. Stewart is something of a Vale veteran, having learned first of all as a nine-year-old with Andy Renwick and then Ian Duncan, two previous Pipe Majors of the Perthshire-based organisation. He progressed to the Vale’s Juvenile band then […]
