At the recent AGM, a new team to oversee the running of the piping competitions was appointed. The sad loss of Robert Stewart and the retiral of Agnes Liddell as Piping Secretary after many years, resulted in the appointment of Mr James Beaton as Piping Convener and Eilidh and Emma Carmichael as Joint Secretaries. Jimmy was born and brought up in Inveraray and learned his piping from Pipe Major Ronnie MacCallum and Robert Stewart. Eilidh and Emma are grandaughters of Robert. They have made significant alterations to the piping section of the Games website and competitors can now access the competition rules and enter on-line by going to piping@inveraray- games.co.uk. Payment of entry fees can now be made by Paypal. Competitors are reminded that the closing date for entries is 15th June. No late entries will be accepted.
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Highland Pipers
Bob Lawson reports: At a recent Highland Pipers’ Society meeting I met in with a group called ‘Live Music Now’. Iain MacDonald and I did a bit of piping for them and I gave what they chose to call a ‘masterclass’ on the construction and playing of the Highland bagpipe. The group comprised skilled musicians from various European countries. The aim of this charitable organisation is to contact young emerging professional musicians of outstanding ability – helping getting careers going as well as widening
access
participation. Your readers might like to look at their website. I have been asked to pass on any names to their Scottish secretary.’ Contact Bob on
CoP Summer School starts first week July. Check out prices at www.collegeofpiping.org. Don't pay more than you have to.
For Sale
Set Strathmore pipes; half hand- engraved silver & imit. ivory; Canmore bag; moisture control system; pipes three years old; mint condition; £2,500 o.n.o.; call 07786 137051
Secretary Alastair Rose reports: On Saturday March 10 a highly appreciative gathering in Finzean Village Hall, Aberdeenshire, heard recitals from 17 young people aged between 7 and 17 from the recently inaugurated Finzean School of Piping. In welcoming the audience Sir Angus Farquharson thanked the benefactors who had helped to establish the school. He congratulated Jenny Murray, Tillycroy, on her initiative in giving expert tuition to so many young people. He said that there had been a strong piping tradition in the Finzean Valley for well over 200 years and this had been maintained by descendants of the MacLeods of Raasay and in recent years by the legendary piping tutor Bessie Brown. The recital ended with all the pupils playing a lively local tune The Fittie Boatman.